Black Jazz Records

Black Jazz Records
Founded1969 (1969)
FounderGene Russell
Dick Schory
Defunct1975 (1975)
Distributor(s)Ovation Records
GenreJazz
Country of originU.S.
LocationOakland, California

Black Jazz Records was a jazz record company and label founded in Oakland, California[1] by pianist Gene Russell (December 2, 1932 - May 3, 1981)[2][3][4] and percussionist Dick Schory.[1][5][2][6] The label was created to promote the talents of young African American jazz musicians and singers, and released twenty albums between 1971 and 1975. The artists who recorded for Black Jazz Records included Cleveland Eaton, former bassist for Count Basie and Ramsey Lewis, and organist/pianist Doug Carn, whose four albums were the most successful of any Black Jazz artist.[7] Carn's wife at the time, Jean Carn, sang on his albums; she changed her name to Jean Carne and had a successful solo career as an R & B singer.[8] Singer Kellee Patterson gained notice as the first black Miss Indiana in 1971, before recording her debut album, Maiden Voyage, with Black Jazz Records in 1973.[9][10] The label was distributed and financed by Ovation Records, a country and western label based in Chicago, which was also founded by Schory.[6][11] Black Jazz Records was considered at the time to be the first jazz label started by an African American since brothers John and Reb Spikes started Sunshine Records in 1921.[3][Note 1]

  1. ^ a b "Black Jazz Records." www.allrecordlabels.com. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Nastos, Michael G. "Gene Russell." www.allmusic.com. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Gene Russell's Back With L.A. Label." Billboard Magazine, September 27, 1980. Google Books. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  4. ^ Williams, Jean. "It's Back to Piano for Russell." Billboard Magazine, June 9, 1979. Google Books. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference blackjazz.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b "Black Owned Jazz Label to Bow With Black Acts Only." Billboard Magazine, July 3, 1971. Google Books. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  7. ^ "Top Jazz Albums: ARTISTS." Billboard Magazine, December 26, 1974. Google Books. Retrieved November 27, 0215.
  8. ^ Wynn, Ron. "Doug Carn." www.allmusic.com. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  9. ^ Harris, Tamara. "Throwback: Kellee Patterson-Turn on the Lights." www.kickmag.net, August 14, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  10. ^ "Profile: Kellee Patterson." Discogs. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  11. ^ "Who's Who in A&R at Ovation." New on the Charts, 1979. www.notc.com. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  12. ^ "Benjamin F. Spike." www.doctorjazz.co.uk. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  13. ^ Granshaw, Michelle. "Black Swan Records(1921-1923)." www.blackpast.org. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  14. ^ Pekar, Harvey. "A new reissue chronicles Debut Records' jazz highlights of the 1950s." www.metroactive.com, October 30-November 5, 1997. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  15. ^ "Debut Records Discography Project." www.jazzdisco.org. Retrieved February 20, 2017.


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