Record labels owned by James Brown
Encyclopedia
Over the course of his career James Brown
owned and operated several different record label
s, which he used primarily to release his own production
s of artists associated with his revue.
's King Records
. Named after Brown's 1958 R&B hit
, Try Me released a handful of singles
by performers and groups associated with the James Brown Revue, including Brown's backing band (recording under the name The Poets), Johnny and Bill (Johnny Terry and Bill Hollings, both members of The Famous Flames
), and female vocalist Tammy Montgomery, who went on to record for Motown as Tammi Terrell
. It ceased operations in the wake of Brown's 1964 contract dispute with King.
(an alliance reflected in the label's name). It was established as an outlet for recordings by members of Brown's revue who King had declined to record, such as former Famous Flames member Bobby Byrd
and his wife Vicki Anderson
. The label released eleven singles in 1970 and 1971 before it was superseded by People Records.
It was later reactivated in 1976 and distributed under Henry Stone's TK Productions
umbrella of record labels until 1977, and then again briefly in 1992 under Stone's company Hot Productions, and then once more under his current company, Henry Stone Music.
. Like its predecessors, People was used to release recordings by performers associated with the James Brown Revue, including Lyn Collins
, Bobby Byrd
, Sweet Charles
and The J.B.'s
. It also recorded some musicians who did not regularly perform with Brown. Brown himself appeared in a supporting role on many People releases, playing organ
or contributing backing vocals
.
Initially distributed by King, People was acquired by Polydor
on July 1, 1971 when Brown signed with that label. Unlike Brown's previous labels, it was commercially successful for a while; it released a number of charting singles, including the #1 R&B hit "Doing It to Death
". People eventually folded in 1976
, concomitant with the dissolution of The J.B.'s. The label's output was later anthologized in a series of three CDs released by Polydor titled James Brown's Funky People.
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
owned and operated several different record label
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,...
s, which he used primarily to release his own production
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
s of artists associated with his revue.
Try Me
Brown founded his first label, Try Me Records, in 1963 under the auspices of Syd NathanSyd Nathan
Syd Nathan was an American hillbilly, country & western and rhythm and blues record producer. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He started the Queen record label in 1943. In 1947 it was renamed King Records. James Brown's first single "Please, Please, Please" was released on their subsidiary label...
's King Records
King Records (USA)
King Records is an American record label, started in 1943 by Syd Nathan and originally headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.-History:At first it specialized in country music, at the time still known as "hillbilly music." King advertised, "If it's a King, It's a Hillbilly -- If it's a Hillbilly, it's a...
. Named after Brown's 1958 R&B hit
Try Me (song)
"Try Me" is a song written and performed by James Brown. He recorded it with his singing group The Famous Flames in 1958. A plaintive ballad, it was the group's second R&B hit , and early in 1959 it became their first song to reach #1 on the R&B chart and was also the first time the group hit the...
, Try Me released a handful of singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by performers and groups associated with the James Brown Revue, including Brown's backing band (recording under the name The Poets), Johnny and Bill (Johnny Terry and Bill Hollings, both members of The Famous Flames
The Famous Flames
The Famous Flames was an R&B vocal group founded by Bobby Byrd that recorded and performed with James Brown during the early years of his career...
), and female vocalist Tammy Montgomery, who went on to record for Motown as Tammi Terrell
Tammi Terrell
Thomasina Winifred Montgomery, known as Tammi Terrell was an American singer-songwriter most notable for her association with Motown and her duets with Marvin Gaye. As a teenager she recorded for the Scepter–Wand, Try Me and Checker record labels. She signed with Motown in April 1965 and enjoyed...
. It ceased operations in the wake of Brown's 1964 contract dispute with King.
Brownstone
Brownstone Records, founded in 1970, was a joint venture between Brown and his longtime associate in the music business Henry StoneHenry Stone
Henry Stone is an American record company executive and producer whose career spans the era from R&B in the early 1950s through the disco boom of the 1970s to the present day. He is best known as co-owner and president of TK Records....
(an alliance reflected in the label's name). It was established as an outlet for recordings by members of Brown's revue who King had declined to record, such as former Famous Flames member Bobby Byrd
Bobby Byrd
Bobby Byrd born Robert Howard Byrd was an American funk/soul/R&B/gospel musician, songwriter and record producer. He was born in Toccoa, Georgia, and is a 1998 winner of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's prestigious Pioneer Award...
and his wife Vicki Anderson
Vicki Anderson
Vicki Anderson is a soul singer best known for her performances with the James Brown Revue. She recorded a number of singles under both her birth and stage names...
. The label released eleven singles in 1970 and 1971 before it was superseded by People Records.
It was later reactivated in 1976 and distributed under Henry Stone's TK Productions
TK Records
TK Records was an American record label started by record distributor, Henry Stone in Miami, Florida, one of several labels that he founded in the 1960s and 1970s...
umbrella of record labels until 1977, and then again briefly in 1992 under Stone's company Hot Productions, and then once more under his current company, Henry Stone Music.
People
People Records, Brown's most successful and prolific label, was founded in 19711971 in music
-Events:*February 1 – after months of feuding in the press, Ginger Baker and Elvin Jones hold a "drum battle" at The Lyceum.*February 8 – Bob Dylan's hour-long documentary film, Eat the Document, is premièred at New York's Academy of Music...
. Like its predecessors, People was used to release recordings by performers associated with the James Brown Revue, including Lyn Collins
Lyn Collins
Lyn Collins was an African American soul singer best known for working with James Brown in the 1970s. Contrary to some reports, she is not related to Bootsy Collins, nor Catfish Collins....
, Bobby Byrd
Bobby Byrd
Bobby Byrd born Robert Howard Byrd was an American funk/soul/R&B/gospel musician, songwriter and record producer. He was born in Toccoa, Georgia, and is a 1998 winner of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's prestigious Pioneer Award...
, Sweet Charles
Sweet Charles Sherrell
"Sweet" Charles Sherrell is an American bassist known for recording and performing with James Brown.-Biography:Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Sherrell began his career playing drums with fellow Nashville residents Jimi Hendrix and Billy Cox, practicing at a club a block from Hendrix's residence...
and The J.B.'s
The J.B.'s
The J.B.'s were James Brown's band during the first half of the 1970s. On record the J.B.'s were sometimes billed under various alternate names such as The James Brown Soul Train, Maceo and the Macks, A.A.B.B., The First Family and The Last Word...
. It also recorded some musicians who did not regularly perform with Brown. Brown himself appeared in a supporting role on many People releases, playing organ
Electronic organ
An electronic organ is an electronic keyboard instrument which was derived from the harmonium, pipe organ and theatre organ. Originally, it was designed to imitate the sound of pipe organs, theatre organs, band sounds, or orchestral sounds....
or contributing backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
.
Initially distributed by King, People was acquired by Polydor
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
on July 1, 1971 when Brown signed with that label. Unlike Brown's previous labels, it was commercially successful for a while; it released a number of charting singles, including the #1 R&B hit "Doing It to Death
Doing It to Death
"Doing It to Death" is a funk song recorded by The J.B.'s featuring James Brown. It was released as a single in 1973 and peaked at number one on the soul singles chart and number twenty-two on the Hot 100...
". People eventually folded in 1976
1976 in music
-January–February:*January 5 – Former Beatles road manager Mal Evans is shot dead by Los Angeles police after refusing to drop what police only later determine is an air rifle....
, concomitant with the dissolution of The J.B.'s. The label's output was later anthologized in a series of three CDs released by Polydor titled James Brown's Funky People.
External links
- Page on Brownstone Records at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- People Records discography at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Radio show on the history of People Records including most of the label's releases (RealPlayer format, 3+ hours)