Grand Award Records
Encyclopedia
Grand Award Records was a record label
associated with ABC-Paramount Records
Grand Award began life as Waldorf Music Hall records in the early 1950s. Waldorf Music Hall records carry a logo "FDR" in a diamond on their front covers, which might mislead some into believing that was the label name. Most Waldorf LPs are 10 inches. The label was devoted to the pop music of the day - largely anonymous musicians recording imitations of the popular styles of the time. A small number are jazz, mainly small group swing. Some of these are prized by collectors (reference to Goldmine Record Guide, to be filled in).
The most successful Waldorf Records were those by "Knuckles O'Toole" - honky tonk piano playing. Several ragtime pianists recorded under the "Knuckles" pseudonym; former big-band pianist Billy Rowland was the first, and several of his recordings have been released on CD. Rowland was succeeded in the late 1950s by Dick Hyman
. (Hyman is heard in the 1970s ABC/Grand Award reissue LP "Knuckles O'Toole Plays the All-Time Greatest Ragtime Hits.")
Around 1955 the company began to transform into Grand Award Records. By this point Enoch Light
was a major player in the company, both as a recording artist and as a company officer. For the next five years Grand Award records had a distinctive cover design consisting of a fake frame of black and white around a well-drawn illustration in the middle. Early ones carried the slogan "Great Music - Great Art", to emphasize the importance of the cover. Classical music was added to the roster. Most of the classical records had reproductions of European masters for the illustrations. The pop records had illustrations by American illustrators of the day - Tracy Sugarman
, Elmer Wexler
, Arthur Shilstone, David Stone. The "Knuckles O'Toole" records continued to be important, and are the easiest Grand Award albums to find. Among the pop records issued by the label are the Roaring Twenties series done by the Charleston City All Stars band, conducted by Light. Some famous musicians recorded for the label, typically after the period of their greatest fame. An example is Paul Whiteman
.
In 1959 the company launched another label - Command Records
. Command record covers were stark white with highly stylized illustrations. The artistic director was Charles E. Murphy, who would design many of the later Command LPs. Enoch Light's name was prominent on many albums both as musician and producer. A few of the earliest covers were designed by Joseph Albers. Other fairly famous artists contributed as well. New Grand Award LPs were phased out by 1961, but the label name was kept for reissues at least until 1966.
The company was sold to ABC ca. 1966. ABC continued the Command label, and launched an experimental rock label ABC Command Probe as part of the division. This label was the first home of the Soft Machine
. By 1970, the history of Waldorf Music Hall/Grand Award/Command came to an end. A few LP reissues (with the label now ABC/Grand Award) kept the music alive until about 1977.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
associated with ABC-Paramount Records
Grand Award began life as Waldorf Music Hall records in the early 1950s. Waldorf Music Hall records carry a logo "FDR" in a diamond on their front covers, which might mislead some into believing that was the label name. Most Waldorf LPs are 10 inches. The label was devoted to the pop music of the day - largely anonymous musicians recording imitations of the popular styles of the time. A small number are jazz, mainly small group swing. Some of these are prized by collectors (reference to Goldmine Record Guide, to be filled in).
The most successful Waldorf Records were those by "Knuckles O'Toole" - honky tonk piano playing. Several ragtime pianists recorded under the "Knuckles" pseudonym; former big-band pianist Billy Rowland was the first, and several of his recordings have been released on CD. Rowland was succeeded in the late 1950s by Dick Hyman
Dick Hyman
Richard “Dick” Hyman is an American jazz pianist/keyboardist and composer, best-known for his versatility with jazz piano styles. Over a 50 year career, he has functioned as pianist, organist, arranger, music director, and, increasingly, as composer...
. (Hyman is heard in the 1970s ABC/Grand Award reissue LP "Knuckles O'Toole Plays the All-Time Greatest Ragtime Hits.")
Around 1955 the company began to transform into Grand Award Records. By this point Enoch Light
Enoch Light
Enoch Henry Light was a classical violinist, bandleader, and recording engineer. As A&R chief and vice-president of Grand Award Records, he founded Command Records in 1959. Light's name was prominent on many albums both as musician and producer...
was a major player in the company, both as a recording artist and as a company officer. For the next five years Grand Award records had a distinctive cover design consisting of a fake frame of black and white around a well-drawn illustration in the middle. Early ones carried the slogan "Great Music - Great Art", to emphasize the importance of the cover. Classical music was added to the roster. Most of the classical records had reproductions of European masters for the illustrations. The pop records had illustrations by American illustrators of the day - Tracy Sugarman
Tracy Sugarman
Tracy A. Sugarman is an American illustrator. He has illustrated hundreds of books and record covers in a career lasting over 50 years. He authored an annotated work on his sketches from World War II....
, Elmer Wexler
Elmer Wexler
Elmer Wexler is an illustrator and cartoonist. He is most famous for his work on comic strips and comic books in the 1940s, including being the inventor of the DC comic hero Miss America in 1941. He is credited with being the first artist to draw a soap-opera style comic strip - Vic Jordan from...
, Arthur Shilstone, David Stone. The "Knuckles O'Toole" records continued to be important, and are the easiest Grand Award albums to find. Among the pop records issued by the label are the Roaring Twenties series done by the Charleston City All Stars band, conducted by Light. Some famous musicians recorded for the label, typically after the period of their greatest fame. An example is Paul Whiteman
Paul Whiteman
Paul Samuel Whiteman was an American bandleader and orchestral director.Leader of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s, Whiteman's recordings were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz"...
.
In 1959 the company launched another label - Command Records
Command Records
Command Records was a record label founded by Enoch Light in 1959 and later associated with ABC-Paramount Records....
. Command record covers were stark white with highly stylized illustrations. The artistic director was Charles E. Murphy, who would design many of the later Command LPs. Enoch Light's name was prominent on many albums both as musician and producer. A few of the earliest covers were designed by Joseph Albers. Other fairly famous artists contributed as well. New Grand Award LPs were phased out by 1961, but the label name was kept for reissues at least until 1966.
The company was sold to ABC ca. 1966. ABC continued the Command label, and launched an experimental rock label ABC Command Probe as part of the division. This label was the first home of the Soft Machine
Soft Machine
Soft Machine were an English rock band from Canterbury, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs. They were one of the central bands in the Canterbury scene, and helped pioneer the progressive rock genre...
. By 1970, the history of Waldorf Music Hall/Grand Award/Command came to an end. A few LP reissues (with the label now ABC/Grand Award) kept the music alive until about 1977.