Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat

15/12/2024

JUKE CHRISTMAS PARTY! - Christmas, like you've never heard it before. This year, the "Juke In The Back" cordially invites you to join us at Rosie's Juke Joint for an intimate Christmas Celebration. Miss Rosie, Bobby The Bobcat and of course, Matt The Cat will be there to make your yuletide bright and present an hour of Christmas tunes that have never been spun before on a "Juke In The Back" holiday program. B.B. King, Gatemouth Brown and Jimmy McCracklin will make sure you have plenty of Christmas Blues, while The Larks, The Soul Stirrers and Pilgrim Travelers provide glorious vocal group harmonies on some obscure Christmas tunes. Jesse Belvin sings about Christmas love while Johnny Moore stops by WITHOUT Charles Brown for a change. Now that's something you don't hear every Christmas. So freshen up your ears with a solid batch of hep, cool and groovy holiday records as you join Rosie's Juke Joint for a jumpin' Christmas Party! You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
https://exchange.prx.org/p/554517

Christmas, like you've never heard it before. This year, the "Juke In The Back" cordially invites you to join us at Rosie's Juke Joint for an intimate Christmas Celebration. Miss Rosie, Bobby The Bobcat and of course, Matt The Cat will be there to make your yuletide bright and present an hour of Chr...

12/12/2024

What if Santa were to bring you a new Juke In The Back Christmas special with Christmas songs that have NEVER appeared in any other Juke Christmas show before?

08/12/2024

JOE LIGGINS - There were so many important figures in post WWII Rhythm & Blues that helped build what would become Rock n' Roll. Today's popular culture has left so many musical pioneers behind and this week the "Juke In The Back" features Joe Liggins, one such pioneer who's been largely forgotten. Liggins scored one of the biggest hits of all-time when his "The Honeydripper" hit #1 on the R&B Chart for 18 staggering weeks in 1945. Singer/songwriter and music historian, Billy Vera drops by the "Juke" to tell us how "The Honeydripper" became such an enormous hit. Liggins scored 10 solid hits for Leon Rene's Exclusive Records before moving to Art Rupe's Specialty Records in 1950. At Specialty, Liggins had the biggest R&B hit of 1950 when "Pink Champagne went to #1 for 13 weeks and ended up selling more copies than "The Honeydripper." It looked like Joe Liggins' career couldn't be stopped, but soon Rock n' Roll, the music he helped create, pushed him and his contemporaries aside to make way for the youth movement. Last week, we spotlighted Joe’s younger brother Jimmy and this week, "Juke In The Back" is proud to honor one of the great musical pioneers of the last century as Matt The Cat plays every chart hit from the fantastic Joe Liggins. You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
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Today's popular culture has left so many musical pioneers behind and this week the "Juke In The Back" features Joe Liggins, one such pioneer who's been largely forgotten. Liggins scored one of the biggest hits of all-time when his "The Honeydripper" hit #1 on the R&B Chart for 18 staggering weeks in...

01/12/2024

JIMMY LIGGINS - Jimmy Liggins didn't have the chart success or popularity of his older brother Joe Liggins, but he did have a killer band, a raw sound and quite possibly the "first rock n' roll record." Both brothers traveled to California from their native Oklahoma in order to make it in the music business. Jimmy started out as a professional boxer before hanging up the gloves in order to drive his older brother around after the success of Joe's "The Honeydripper" in 1945. By the end of '46, Jimmy told Joe that he was cuttin' out on his own to form his own band and make his own records. He hit the charts with his 2nd single "Teardrop Blues" in 1948. Its flipside was "Cadillac Boogie," which was Ike Turner and Jackie Brenston's inspiration for "Rocket 88." Jimmy Liggins only scored four R&B chart hits during his career, but he cut a trove of groovy plattahs worth hearing. He is definitely one of R&B's unsung heroes. Get Jimmy Liggins' story and all the great music that comes with it on this week's "Juke In The Back" with Matt The Cat. You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
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Jimmy Liggins may not have been as successful as his older brother Joe, but Jimmy's 1948 recording of "Cadillac Boogie" just might be the first rock n' roll record. Dig on the story and music of Jimmy Liggins, an unsung R&B hero on this week's "Juke In The Back" with Matt The Cat.

24/11/2024

BUDDY & ELLA JOHNSON - Bandleader, pianist, composer and sometimes vocalist Buddy Johnson and his chanteuse sister Ella are in the spotlight on this week's "Juke In The Back." Johnson was a superstar and one of the hottest live acts of the 1940s in the Black Community, but he barely made a dent with White audiences, though a few of his records actually did cross over into the Pop Chart. Raised in South Carolina, Buddy moved to New York when he was 23 and began touring the world with the Cotton Club R***e. A professed lover of Classical Music, Buddy found his bread n' butter was playing Big Band Swing and Jump Blues to audiences coast to coast. His touring band was widely popular after WWII, when most large ensembles had paired down to smaller combos. Buddy Johnson always put entertaining the people first and he changed with the times, keeping his style fresh and relevant. He scored numerous R&B hits with "Let's Beat Out Some Love," "When My Man Comes Home," "That's The Stuff You Gotta Watch," "(Gotta Go) Upside Your Head" and many more. His sister Ella Johnson was the featured vocalist on many of Buddy's biggest hits, but he also discovered a young Arthur Prysock, who would go on to greater fame after leaving Johnson. Buddy Johnson wrote some of the era's most endearing tunes, including "Fine Brown Frame," "Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball" and "Since I Feel For You," which is now a jazz standard. Matt The Cat loads the ol' Rockola Juke with Buddy Johnson's biggest Decca and Mercury sides, spanning 18 years on this week's "Juke In The Back." You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
https://exchange.prx.org/p/552170

Bandleader, pianist, composer and sometimes vocalist Buddy Johnson and his chanteuse sister Ella are in the spotlight on this week's "Juke In The Back." Johnson was a superstar and one of the hottest live acts of the 1940s in the Black Community, but he barely made a dent with White audiences, thoug...

17/11/2024

BO DIDDLEY, Pt. 2 – 1956-59 - Last week, the "Juke In The Back" featured every recording made by the innovative BO DIDDLEY during the year 1955. This week, the Juke picks it up in early 1956 and showcases BO DIDDLEY's influential and diverse releases through 1959. He remained mostly off the R&B Charts during this period. That's inexplicable, since many of the singles issued by Checker Records became R&B, Rock n' Roll and Blues standards. Many Blues greats have recorded and interpreted Bo's "Before You Accuse Me (Take A Look At Yourself)" and countless garage bands have taken a crack at "Who Do You Love." Matt The Cat also highlights the previously unreleased original recording of "Love Is Strange," recorded almost a whole year before Mickey & Silvia made it a #1 R&B smash. Why didn't Checker ever issue Bo's original? We close the program with Bo Diddley returning to the R&B and Pop Charts in 1959 with the doo w*p ballad, "I'm Sorry," the Latin-tinged "I'm Crackin' Up" and the signifying "Say Man," which would become BO DIDDLEY's biggest selling record. Don't miss BO DIDDLEY: 1956-59 on this week's "Juke In The Back." You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
https://exchange.prx.org/p/551313

Last week, the "Juke In The Back" featured every recording made by the innovative BO DIDDLEY during the year 1955. This week, the Juke picks it up in early 1956 and showcases BO DIDDLEY's influential and diverse releases through 1959.

10/11/2024

BO DIDDLEY, Pt. 1 – 1955 - This week's "Juke In The Back" takes a look at the breakthrough year of one of rock n' roll's true architects and innovators, Bo Diddley. His first recording session was held at Chess Records in Chicago on March 2nd and 3rd, 1955, where he laid down 4 original tunes. One of those songs, "I'm A Man," would inspire blues great Muddy Waters' "Manish Boy," while the other, "Bo Diddley," would be the igniting spark for rock n' roll. Diddley was a complicated and compelling artist, who's talents go way beyond his signature "hambone" rhythm, his vibrato guitar and his crazy lyrics. Bo's spirit is the spirit of rebellion, the true ingredient for rock music. It all began in 1955 and this week's "Juke In The Back" will explore those roots. This is part 1 of a 2 part special on the great Bo Diddley. You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
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This week's "Juke In The Back" features every record Bo Diddley recorded during his debut year of 1955. You'll hear where it all began with one of rock n' roll's most unique and dynamic personalities as Matt The Cat presents part 1 of a 2 part series on Bo Diddley.

03/11/2024

The CHECKERS - The "Juke In The Back" features another highly underrated R&B vocal group from the 1950s: The Checkers. They never scored a national hit, but they're one of the finest examples of polished 1950s R&B and their story deserves to be shared. The Checkers were formed after tenor Charlie White and bass Bill Brown split from Bill Ward & His Dominoes. They had some regional success with "House With No Windows," an uptempo version of "White Cliffs Of Dover" and "Don't Stop Dan," the sequel to "Sixty Minute Man." Matt The Cat digs through a mess of King Records 78s to bring you the best and most influential sides that this great R&B vocal group has to offer on this week's "Juke In The Back." You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
https://exchange.prx.org/p/549665

The "Juke In The Back" features another highly underrated R&B vocal group from the 1950s: The Checkers. They never scored a national hit, but they're one of the finnest examples of polished 1950s R&B and their story deserves to be shared.

27/10/2024

HALLOWEEN RHYTHM & BLUES - This week, the ol' Rockola Jukebox is haunted by a strange spirit of rhythm & ghouls. Where is Matt The Cat? We don't know, but the spirit tells us he will return next week. In his absence, the "Juke In The Back" still fulfills the weekly promise of delivering a solid hour of 1940s and '50s Rhythm & Blues, but with a Halloween theme this week. Dig on some of your old favorites by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, LaVern Baker and The Hollywood Flames, while also getting a good fright off of seldom heard records by Mad Man Jones, The Sly Fox and Chuck Berry. Plus, a rare 1937 test pressing from Victoria Spivey makes its "Juke" debut with "Witchcraft Blues." Also, Bobby The Bobcat returns with another spooky Halloween tale from his incredible imagination. So hang on to your souls as the haunted jukebox presents Spooky Halloween Rhythm & Blues. You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
https://exchange.prx.org/p/548726

This week, the ol' Rockola Jukebox is haunted by a strange spirit of rhythm & ghouls. Dig on some of your old favorites by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, LaVern Baker and The Hollywood Flames, while also getting a good fright off of seldom heard records by Mad Man Jones, The Sly Fox and Chuck Berry. Plus, a...

20/10/2024

KING RECORDS, PT. 10 – FEDERAL RECORDS, PT. 2 - This week, it's part 10 of a 10 part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After seeing the sales potential in the Rhythm & Blues market, Nathan launched the Queen Records subsidiary in 1945, but folded it into King in 1947 and transferred his R&B acts over. At the end of 1950, King launched a new R&B subsidiary called Federal Records. Nathan chose Ralph Bass to head up this new venture. Bass had already proven himself a great talent scout, first with Black & White Records in the mid-'40s and then with Savoy Records. Bass kicked off 1954 with a smash, "WorK With Me Annie" by The Midnighters, who were formally known as the Royals. "Annie" spent 7 weeks at #1 and sparked a myriad of sequels and answer records. One of those sequels, "Annie Had A Baby," also by The Midnighters spent 2 weeks at #1, later in the year. This week, in part 10 of our behemoth series on King Records, we'll feature the biggest and best releases from King's subsidiary label from 1954-56. The Federal catalog is plentiful with vocal group releases during this time and we'll hear some of the finest and rarest from The Platters, The Lamplighters, The Tune Blenders, The Californians and The Sheiks. Plus, James Brown and the Famous Flames get their start at the beginning of 1956 AND we'll hear early R&B records from a future comedian and a future Broadway performer. Matt The Cat is full of surprises and the "Juke In The Back" is loaded with Federal 78s as we present the final part of our 10 part series on King Records. You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
https://exchange.prx.org/p/547815

This week, it's part 10 of a 10 part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. At the end of 1950, King launched a new R&B subsidiary called Federal Records. Nathan chose Ralph Bass to head up this new venture. Bass kicked off 1954 with a smash, "WorK With Me Annie" by The Midnighter...

13/10/2024

KING RECORDS, pt. 9 – FEDERAL RECORDS, Pt. 1 - This week, it's part 9 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After seeing the sales potential in the Rhythm & Blues market, Nathan launched the Queen Records subsidiary in 1945, but folded it into King in 1947 and transferred his R&B acts over. At the end of 1950, King launched a new R&B subsidiary called Federal Records. Nathan chose Ralph Bass to head up this new venture. Bass had already proven himself a great talent scout, first with Black & White Records in the mid-'40s and then with Savoy Records. Earlier in 1950, under Bass' watch, Savoy scored 3 #1 records with the Johnny Otis Orchestra. Federal's first R&B release, "Do Something For Me" by a new group from New York called the Dominoes, immediately made the national top 10. Federal was off and running with more hits from the Dominoes, including the biggest R&B record of 1951 ("Sixty Minute Man") and 1952 ("Have Mercy Baby"). Another vocal group on Federal at the time was The Royals. Though their early output were mostly chart sleepers, in 1953 with Hank Ballard on vocals, their "Get It" made the national top 10 and set the stage for what was coming. Soon, the Royals would become the Midnighters and "Work With Me Annie" would be the top R&B single in America. Matt The Cat digs up the essential Federal Records releases from 1951-54 in part 1 of 2 on this week's "Juke In The Back." You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
https://exchange.prx.org/p/547066

This week, it's part 9 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. At the end of 1950, King launched a new R&B subsidiary called Federal Records. King owner Syd Nathan chose Ralph Bass to head up this new venture. Federal's first R&B release, "Do Something For Me" by a new...

06/10/2024

KING RECORDS, Pt. 8 – 1954-56 - This week, it's part 8 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After seeing the sales potential in the Rhythm & Blues market, Nathan launched the Queen Records subsidiary in 1945, but folded it into King in 1947 and transferred his R&B acts over. King established itself in the R&B field with Bull Moose Jackson, Ivory Joe Hunter, Wynonie Harris and Lonnie Johnson all scoring enormous hit records. This week in part 8, we take a look at King's spectacular releases during 1954-56. The first 2 years were a dry time for hit records at King, but in 1956, the label came roaring back with major hits from Little Willie John and Bill Doggett, who scored his first hit since 1945. "Honk Tonk" was the biggest R&B record of the year and it reestablished Doggett, who would have several more hits on King extending to 1959. Vocal Groups were big during this time as Rock n' Roll was being born and King was there with The Checkers, The Ink Spots, The Admirals, The Dominoes and The "5" Royales. This will be the final part of the series on King. Next week, in part 9, we'll take a look at King's highly successful R&B subsidiary label, Federal Records. Matt The Cat makes sure you don't miss a beat on this week's "Juke In The Back." You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
https://exchange.prx.org/p/546232

This week, it's part 8 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Matt The Cat takes a look at King's spectacular releases during 1954-56. The first 2 years were a dry time for hit records at King, but in 1956, the label came roaring back with major hits from Little Willi...

29/09/2024

KING RECORDS, Pt. 7 – 1953 - This week, it's part 7 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After seeing the sales potential in the Rhythm & Blues market, Nathan launched the Queen Records subsidiary in 1945, but folded it into King in 1947 and transferred his R&B acts over. King established itself in the R&B field with Bull Moose Jackson, Ivory Joe Hunter, Wynonie Harris and Lonnie Johnson all scoring enormous hit records. This week in part 7, we take a look at King's spectacular releases during 1953. Though Wynonie Harris stopped having national hits back in '52, he still has some strong releases in '53. Annisteen Allen, who had been with King since 1945 finally has a hit under her own name with an answer record to the "5" Royales' "Baby Don't Do It" called "Baby, I'm Doing It" and there are plenty of beautiful vocal group records released on King this year. Matt The Cat's got 'em all and he's loading those jumpin' and swooning sides into this week's "Juke In The Back." You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
https://exchange.prx.org/p/545414

This week, it's part 7 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Matt The Cat takes a look at King's spectacular releases during 1953, including some stellar records from Wynonie Harris, Annisteen Allen and Tiny Bradshaw. Vocal group records began to take hold in '53 and...

22/09/2024

KING RECORDS, Pt. 6 – 1952 - This week, it's part 6 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After seeing the sales potential in the Rhythm & Blues market, Nathan launched the Queen Records subsidiary in 1945, but folded it into King in 1947 and transferred his R&B acts over. King established itself in the R&B field with Bull Moose Jackson, Ivory Joe Hunter, Wynonie Harris and Lonnie Johnson all scoring enormous hit records. This week in part 6, we take a look at King's spectacular releases during 1952. The great Sonny Thompson has his final 2 career charting singles in '52 and Bill Doggett begins his long stint with King, though he wouldn't have a hit until '56. Even though Todd Rhodes didn't have a hit this year, he is all over this week's "Juke" with a risque number, "Rocket 69" with Connie Allen on lead and "Trying" with LaVern Baker on lead. Rhodes also backs up Wynonie Harris on "Keep on Churnin'" and Moose Jackson on "Big Ten Inch Record." We'll also dig on 2 tunes that would become much bigger hits for other artists later; The Swallows' version of "I Only Have Eyes For You" and Dave Bartholomew's original "My Ding-A-Ling." Matt The Cat's got 'em all and he's loading those blue label King Records into this week's "Juke In The Back." You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
https://exchange.prx.org/p/544553

This week, it's part 6 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. In part 6, we take a look at King's spectacular releases during 1952. The great Sonny Thompson has his final 2 career charting singles in '52 and Bill Doggett begins his long stint with King, though he woul...

15/09/2024

KING RECORDS, Pt. 5 – 1951 - This week, it's part 5 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After seeing the sales potential in the Rhythm & Blues market, Nathan launched the Queen Records subsidiary in 1945, but folded it into King in 1947 and transferred his R&B acts over. King established itself in the R&B field with Bull Moose Jackson, Ivory Joe Hunter, Wynonie Harris and Lonnie Johnson all scoring enormous hit records. This week in part 5, we take a look at King's spectacular releases during 1951. Wynonie Harris scores his last 2 career charting records, while fellow blues shouter Tiny Bradshaw continued his hit streak. Earl Bostic scores a #1 record with "Flamingo," a tune made popular ten years earlier by Duke Ellington. Bull Moose Jackson becomes Moose Jackson and Sonny Thompson starts scoring hits for King. In 1951, King Records continued selling millions of records and this week, Matt The Cat stocks the "Juke In The Back" with the best of them. You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
https://exchange.prx.org/p/543633

This week, it's part 5 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. We take a look at King's spectacular releases during 1951. Wynonie Harris scores his last 2 career charting records, while fellow blues shouter Tiny Bradshaw continued his hit streak. Earl Bostic scores a #...

08/09/2024

KING RECORDS, Pt. 4 – 1949-50 - This week, it's part 4 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After a rough start, he relaunched King in 1944 with investment from his various family members. Nathan, seeing sales potential in the Rhythm & Blues market, launched the Queen Records subsidiary in 1945, but folded it into King in 1947 and transferred his R&B acts over. King established itself in the R&B field with Bull Moose Jackson, Ivory Joe Hunter, Wynonie Harris and Lonnie Johnson all scoring enormous hit records. This week in part 4, we take a look at King's spectacular releases at the end of 1949 through '50. Bull Moose Jackson racks up another hit record with a big #2 charter, "Why Don't You Haul Off And Love Me," which originally hit #1 for hillbilly singer Wayne Raney. In early 1950, Ivory Joe Hunter had already moved on to MGM Records, but King continued to release singles by him and "I Quit My Pretty Mama" hit big for the label in the wake of his #1 for MGM, "I Almost Lost My Mind." Wynonie Harris continued to rack up hits for King in 1950 and Sonny Thompson and Tiny Bradshaw both made their King Records debuts that year. Matt The Cat's got the ol' Rockola Juke full of those records, plus a few surprises, so get ready to groove on part 4 of King Records on this week's "Juke In The Back." You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
https://exchange.prx.org/p/542890

This week, it's part 4 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Matt The Cat fills the ol' Rockola Jukebox with King's spectacular releases at the end of 1949 through '50. Wynonie Harris racks up more hits along with Bull Moose Jackson and Ivory Joe Hunter, while Tiny B...

25/08/2024

KING RECORDS, Pt. 2 – 1947-48 - This week, it's part 2 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After a rough start, he relaunched King in 1944 with investment from his various family members. As King began to make a dent in the hillbilly field, he recognized that it would be more cost effective to offer other musical genres to clients who were already buying the hillbilly music from him. Not wanting to confuse King's intention to be a hillbilly label, Nathan launched a rhythm & blues subsidiary that he named Queen Records. By 1947, King had fully established itself as a hillbilly label, so Nathan felt it was time to take on the R&B market and so he folded the Queen label into King and moved many of the R&B artist over to the parent label. King kicked off 1948 with a #1 smash with Bull Moose Jackson's, "I Love You, Yes I Do." Jackson would score a 2nd #1 later in the year with "i Can't Go On With Out You." Wynonie Harris also put up big numbers in 1948 with the chart-topper, "Good Rockin' Tonight" and Ivory Joe Hunter scored several top 10 records for King that year. The King roster was full of veteran artists from jazzer Todd Rhodes to bluesman Lonnie Johnson, who's version of "Tomorrow Night" also topped the charts for King. So get your hands on some nickels as we salute King Records with part 2: 1947-48. You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
https://exchange.prx.org/p/541117

This week, it's part 2 of a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. He started the Queen subsidiary in 1945 as an R&B imprint and in '47 folded Queen's R&B rost...

18/08/2024

KING RECORDS, Pt. 1 – QUEEN RECORDS - This week, we begin a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under the King logo in 1943, developed King as a hillbilly music label. After a rough start, he relaunched King in 1944 with investment from his various family members. As King began to make a dent in the hillbilly field, he recognized that it would be more cost effective to offer other musical genres to clients who were already buying the hillbilly music from him. Not wanting to confuse King's intention to be a hillbilly label, Nathan launched a rhythm & blues subsidiary that he named Queen Records. Nathan admitted that he did not have an ear for R&B, so he bought at least one third of the Queen releases from other producers, most notably, African American producer Mayo Williams. Queen only scored one national R&B hit during its 2 years of existence, Bull Moose Jackson's "I Know Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well" in 1946. By mid-1947, Syd Nathan felt that King had properly established itself as a hillbilly label and now he was comfortable going after other genres with King. There was no need for Queen Records any longer, so he closed the subsidiary and moved many of Queen's artists over to King. Now King would take on the R&B market and prove super successful at it. Matt The Cat digs up Queen's finest releases this week as we feature part 1 of King Records. So drop a nickel in for Bull Moose and let's go! You can stream "Juke In The Back" below OR on Spotify, TuneIn and iTunes. More info and a list of radio stations airing the program at jukeintheback.org.
https://exchange.prx.org/p/540187

This week, we begin a 10-part series on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. In part one, Matt The Cat will look at King's short-lived R&B subsidiary, Queen Records. Queen got King into the R&B field, before it was folded into the parent label in 1947. Queen's top artists moved over to Ki...