Holiday Inn Records
Encyclopedia
Holiday Inn Records was a record label founded by D. Wayne Foster in 1961. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for Foster and Kemmons Wilson
, as an independent business venture. Foster ran the label in 1961-1963, with a selection of artists including The Roller Coasters, Jimmy Foster, Frank Starr, Kenny Lund, Rusty Curry, Buck Griffin
, Stan Daniel, and Tookie Collom.
Sam Phillips
of Sun Records
later ran the label on behalf of Wilson, recording artists including Charlie Feathers
, Dolly Holiday, Diane Hull, Lee Adkins, Greg Todd and The Jacks, Jerry Dyke, The Climates, and Ironing Board Sam, Portrait of Fun, Robert and Randy, Larry Brinkley, Larry and The Accommodations, Gary Ellison, Charlie Freeman
, Charlie's Children, Load of Mischief, and Bill Haley and his Comets.
founded Holiday Inn Records in 1961 as an independent recording business. At this time, Foster was Holiday Inn's National Contract Sales Manager. The cause for the start of Holiday Inn Records was Foster's discovery of a group named The Roller Coasters. Bringing the group to the Owen Bradley's Studio in Nashville, TN to record, created the first Holiday Inn Record. The song was named "Rim Shot, part 1" and "Rim Shot, part 2" by The Roller Coasters. Published by Beaik Pub., BMI 0001, instrumental, Record #1..
Initially, Holiday Inn Records recorded a number of acts whom Foster personally discovered, and in most cases he would be involved in the recording sessions with the assistances of Neal Matthews Jr. from the Jordanairs. Several notable artists were signed in the first year including The Roller Coasters, Jimmy Foster, Frank Starr, Kenny Lund, Rusty Curry, Buck Griffin
, Stan Daniel, and Tookie Collom. Some of the studio musicians Foster picked consisted of Chet Atkins
, Floyd Cramer
, Boots Randolph
.
In 1963, Wayne Foster had only a small amount of time to devote to producing records for the label with his many other more profitable business ventures. Inevitably, after producing eleven more records, Foster decided to leave Holiday Inn
for his other business interests. This left Wilson needing to find someone to take care of Holiday Inn Records. He asked his old friend Sam Phillips
of Sun Records
. Since Sam had invested in the Holiday Inn Hotel chain earlier, he later recorded other artists on the Holiday Inn Record label for Wilson.
Kemmons Wilson
Charles Kemmons Wilson was the founder of the Holiday Inn chain of hotels.-Personal life:He was born in Osceola, Arkansas, the only child of Kemmons and Ruby "Doll" Wilson. His father was an insurance salesman who died when Kemmons was nine months old...
, as an independent business venture. Foster ran the label in 1961-1963, with a selection of artists including The Roller Coasters, Jimmy Foster, Frank Starr, Kenny Lund, Rusty Curry, Buck Griffin
Buck Griffin
Albert C. "Buck" Griffin was an American country musician and songwriter. He was a popular performer live and on radio, though he never scored a hit on record, and was compared to Hank Williams and Conway Twitty....
, Stan Daniel, and Tookie Collom.
Sam Phillips
Sam Phillips
Samuel Cornelius Phillips , better known as Sam Phillips, was an American businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s...
of Sun Records
Sun Records
Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...
later ran the label on behalf of Wilson, recording artists including Charlie Feathers
Charlie Feathers
Charles Arthur "Charlie" Feathers was an influential American rockabilly and country music performer.-Biography:...
, Dolly Holiday, Diane Hull, Lee Adkins, Greg Todd and The Jacks, Jerry Dyke, The Climates, and Ironing Board Sam, Portrait of Fun, Robert and Randy, Larry Brinkley, Larry and The Accommodations, Gary Ellison, Charlie Freeman
Charlie Freeman
Charles Redfearn "Charlie" Freeman was an English professional football player. His clubs included Chelsea and Gillingham.-References:...
, Charlie's Children, Load of Mischief, and Bill Haley and his Comets.
History
D. Wayne Foster and Kemmons WilsonKemmons Wilson
Charles Kemmons Wilson was the founder of the Holiday Inn chain of hotels.-Personal life:He was born in Osceola, Arkansas, the only child of Kemmons and Ruby "Doll" Wilson. His father was an insurance salesman who died when Kemmons was nine months old...
founded Holiday Inn Records in 1961 as an independent recording business. At this time, Foster was Holiday Inn's National Contract Sales Manager. The cause for the start of Holiday Inn Records was Foster's discovery of a group named The Roller Coasters. Bringing the group to the Owen Bradley's Studio in Nashville, TN to record, created the first Holiday Inn Record. The song was named "Rim Shot, part 1" and "Rim Shot, part 2" by The Roller Coasters. Published by Beaik Pub., BMI 0001, instrumental, Record #1..
Initially, Holiday Inn Records recorded a number of acts whom Foster personally discovered, and in most cases he would be involved in the recording sessions with the assistances of Neal Matthews Jr. from the Jordanairs. Several notable artists were signed in the first year including The Roller Coasters, Jimmy Foster, Frank Starr, Kenny Lund, Rusty Curry, Buck Griffin
Buck Griffin
Albert C. "Buck" Griffin was an American country musician and songwriter. He was a popular performer live and on radio, though he never scored a hit on record, and was compared to Hank Williams and Conway Twitty....
, Stan Daniel, and Tookie Collom. Some of the studio musicians Foster picked consisted of Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
, Floyd Cramer
Floyd Cramer
Floyd Cramer was an American Hall of Fame pianist who was one of the architects of the "Nashville sound." He popularized the "slip note" piano style where an out-of-tune note slides effortlessly into the correct note...
, Boots Randolph
Boots Randolph
Homer Louis "Boots" Randolph III was an American musician best known for his 1963 saxophone hit, "Yakety Sax"...
.
In 1963, Wayne Foster had only a small amount of time to devote to producing records for the label with his many other more profitable business ventures. Inevitably, after producing eleven more records, Foster decided to leave Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn is a brand of hotels, formally a economy motel chain, forming part of the British InterContinental Hotels Group . It is one of the world's largest hotel chains with 238,440 bedrooms and 1,301 hotels globally. There are currently 5 hotels in the pipeline...
for his other business interests. This left Wilson needing to find someone to take care of Holiday Inn Records. He asked his old friend Sam Phillips
Sam Phillips
Samuel Cornelius Phillips , better known as Sam Phillips, was an American businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s...
of Sun Records
Sun Records
Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...
. Since Sam had invested in the Holiday Inn Hotel chain earlier, he later recorded other artists on the Holiday Inn Record label for Wilson.