Select-O-Hits
Encyclopedia
Select-O-Hits is an independent label distributor of music based in Memphis, Tennessee. They have been in business for 50 years, and distribute artists that include Johnnie Taylor, Jimmy Buffett, Three Six Mafia, Colt Ford, and Diana Reyes.
The early years
- Select-O-Hits , which is owned by Sam W. Phillips and John Phillips, was co-founded in 1960 by their father, Tom Phillips, and uncle, Sam PhillipsSam PhillipsSamuel 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...
, the legendary founder of Sun RecordsSun RecordsSun 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...
.
- Tom Phillips began his career in music as Jerry Lee LewisJerry Lee LewisJerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
' road manager for a number of years. He had invested all of his savings into an upcoming 1958 European tour when news of Lewis' marriage to his 13 year-old cousin hit the front pages. Lewis' career came to a sudden, although temporary, halt. The tour was cancelled, and Tom was broke. Sam helped by giving him a job in the Sun Records warehouse and allowing Tom to live with him while his family stayed behind in Mobile, Alabama. Eventually, Tom saved enough money to send for his family in 1960.
- Tom was not satisfied with running the warehouse, so with the help of his wife, Lucille, he opened a small record store and one-stop that provided small, predominantly black-owned record stores with everything from phonograph needles to display racks.
1970's-1990's
- In the mid-1970s, Select-O-Hits began to concentrate more on distributing and less on retail and one-stops. The retail store closed in the mid-1980s, and the one-stop followed a few years later.
- Select-O-Hits has formed a number of successful record labels, such as Avenue, Icehouse, SOH, Brutal Records, Basix Music, Blues Works and Prophet EntertainmentProphet EntertainmentProphet Entertainment is a Memphis, Tennessee based rap record label formerly owned by DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia. It is now owned by Nick Scarfo.-History:...
. In 1997 half of the company was sold to Malaco RecordsMalaco RecordsMalaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
of Jackson, Mississippi.
Select-O-Hits Today
- In 2005, Select-O-Hits and Malaco acquired Atlanta International Records of Atlanta, Georgia. While all genres of music are represented in the family of labels Select-O-Hits distributes, Rap, Blues, Soul and Gospel are still the largest portion of the business.
- Today with sales staff in Memphis, New York, Sacramento, Miami, and Dallas, Select-O-Hits is one of the largest independent record distributors in the country, providing services for over 300 independent vendors to all key US music traditional "brick and mortar" retailers, as well as digital media sites such as iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and eMusicEMusiceMusic is an online music and audiobook store that operates by subscription. It is headquartered in New York City with an office in London and owned by Dimensional Associates. As of September 2008 eMusic has over 400,000 subscribers....
.
Select-O Latino
- In 2007, Select-O-Hits began distributing Latin and Regional Mexican music labels.
- Since then, the "Select-O Latino" brand has grown to include multiple Latin GrammyLatin Grammy AwardsA Latin Grammy Award is an accolade by the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. Unlike the regular Grammy Award which primarily honors music produced in the United States, the Latin Grammy honors works produced anywhere around the...
-nominated artists like Luis EnriqueLuis Enrique (singer)Luis Enrique Mejía López, is a Nicaraguan singer and composer. He started his career in the late 1980s and achieved success in the 1990s earning the title "El Principe de la Salsa . He was one of the leading pioneers that led to the salsa romantica movement in the 1980s...
, Luz Rios, Diego VerdaguerDiego VerdaguerDiego Verdaguer is a singer-songwriter from Argentina who has resided in Mexico for almost 30 years. He plays the trumpet and the bandoneón. He is married to fellow Argentine singer Amanda Miguel. His most famous songs are "Corazón de Papel" and "La Ladrona"...
, Los Invasores de Nuevo León, and Orestes VilatóOrestes VilatóOrestes Vilató is a Timbalero/Bongosero.He went to New York City at the age of 12, after his father was recruited to be in charge of international flights inaugurated by Cubana de Aviación...
.
Artists
- Colt FordColt FordJason Farris Brown known professionally as Colt Ford, is an American country music artist and former professional golfer. He has released three albums via his own Average Joe's label, and has charted four singles on the Hot Country Songs charts...
- DondriaDondriaDondria Nicole Fields , better known by her stage names Phatfffat or Dondria, is an American R&B singer, currently signed to So So Def Recordings. Before getting signed, Dondria was known to post YouTube videos singing cover songs.-Discovery and early life:Dondria was discovered on YouTube by So So...
- Pastor TroyPastor TroyMicah LeVar Troy is an American rapper, actor, and record producer. He is also a member of the hardcore rap group D.S.G.B. .-Early life:Micah LeVar Troy was born on November 18, 1977 in Augusta, Georgia...
- BeBe & CeCe WinansBeBe & CeCe WinansBeBe & CeCe Winans are an American Gospel music brother and sister duo. BeBe and CeCe Winans are the seventh and eighth of "Mom" and "Pop" Winans' ten children, most of whom have had successful Gospel music careers.-Musical career:...
- Lee DeWyzeLee DeWyzeLeon James "Lee" DeWyze, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter from Mount Prospect, Illinois, and the winner of the ninth season of American Idol. Prior to Idol, DeWyze had a solo career and formed the Lee DeWyze Band. He had also released two independent albums called So I'm Told in 2007 and...
- Jimmy BuffettJimmy BuffettJames William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
- Bret MichaelsBret MichaelsBret Michaels is an American musician, actor, director, screenwriter, producer and reality television personality. He first gained fame as the lead vocalist of the glam metal band Poison. Besides his career as lead singer, he has several solo albums to his credit, as well as one chart single...
- Three Six Mafia
- Brantley GilbertBrantley GilbertBrantley Gilbert is an American country rock music singer-songwriter. He has released two albums, both on the Average Joe's Entertainment Group label. His songs have also been recorded by Colt Ford and Jason Aldean. In February 2011, he left Average Joe's label to join Valory Music Group, where he...
- Miguelito (artist)Miguelito (artist)Miguel A. Valenzuela Morales , known as Miguelito, is a Puerto Rican reggaeton artist. He has released four albums.-Personal life:Miguelito is the youngest son of a Dominican father and a Puerto Rican mother...
- Chris IsaakChris IsaakChristopher Joseph "Chris" Isaak is an American rock musician and occasional actor.-Early life:Isaak was born in Stockton, California, the son of Dorothy , a potato chip factory worker, and Joe Isaak, a forklift driver. Isaak's mother is Italian American, originating from Genoa...
- Don ChetoDon ChetoİDon Cheto, known as "el hombre del vozarrón", is a Mexican entertainer and musician.He was born on September 21, 1962 in La Sauceda, Michoacan, Mexico....
- Joan JettJoan JettJoan Jett is an American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer and actress.She is best known for her work with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts including their hit cover "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 from March 20 to May 1, 1982, as well as for their other popular...
- Eightball & MJG
- Jencarlos
- Diana ReyesDiana ReyesDiana Reyes is a Mexican singer of duranguense music.Reyes was born in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. She has released three gold records since 2004: La Reina del Pasito Duranguense, Las No. 1 de la Reina, and Te Voy a Mostrar...
- Diego VerdaguerDiego VerdaguerDiego Verdaguer is a singer-songwriter from Argentina who has resided in Mexico for almost 30 years. He plays the trumpet and the bandoneón. He is married to fellow Argentine singer Amanda Miguel. His most famous songs are "Corazón de Papel" and "La Ladrona"...
- Ann-MargretAnn-MargretAnn-Margret Olsson is a Swedish-American actress, singer and dancer whose professional name is Ann-Margret. She became famous for her starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, The Cincinnati Kid, Carnal Knowledge, and Tommy...
- The Light Crust DoughboysLight Crust DoughboysThe Light Crust Doughboys is a quintessential American Western swing band from Texas organized in 1931 by the Burrus Mill and Elevator Company in Saginaw, Texas. The band achieved its peak popularity in the few years leading up to World War II...
- Larry Ford
- James BlackwoodJames BlackwoodJames Webre Blackwood was an American Gospel singer and one of the founding members of legendary Southern Gospel quartet The Blackwood Brothers.-Biography:...
- The JordanairesThe JordanairesThe Jordanaires are an American vocal quartet, which formed as a gospel group in 1948. They are best known for providing vocal background for Elvis Presley, in live appearances and recordings from 1956 to 1972...
- Nokie EdwardsNokie EdwardsNokie Edwards is an American musician and member of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is primarily a guitarist, best known for his work with The Ventures...
Labels
- Malaco RecordsMalacoMalaco is a brand of confectionery products owned by Leaf, their products are sold in Norway, Iceland, Denmark and Finland as well as Sweden....
- Sun RecordsSun RecordsSun 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...
- Stax RecordsStax RecordsStax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and...
- Average Joe's Entertainment Group
- Mailboat RecordsMailboat RecordsMailboat Records is a record label established in 1999 by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. The label's first release was Buffett's Buffett Live: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays. In addition to Buffett, the label's roster includes Dan Fogelberg, Bret Michaels, Boz Scaggs, Def Leppard and...
- Blackheart RecordsBlackheart RecordsBlackheart Records is an American record label founded by rock musicians Joan Jett and Kenny Laguna. Artists include The Eyeliners, Endless Bummer, Girl in a Coma, the Cute Lepers, the Dollyrots, the Vacancies, and, of course, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts....
- Prophet EntertainmentProphet EntertainmentProphet Entertainment is a Memphis, Tennessee based rap record label formerly owned by DJ Paul and Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia. It is now owned by Nick Scarfo.-History:...
- Art GreenhawArt GreenhawArt Greenhaw is a Grammy Award-Winning recording artist, producer and mixing engineer, having won the Grammy Award in 2003 in New York City for "Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album of the Year" for the album WE CALLED HIM MR. GOSPEL MUSIC: THE JAMES BLACKWOOD TRIBUTE ALBUM...
Records