In Memory of Vee-Jay Records
There was a time when Michigan Avenue was lined with record labels. Michigan Avenue is the main road through downtown Chicago, for those of you who do not know. In fact, the south Michigan area was once know as “Record Row.” Some of the greatest Chicago blues musicians the world has ever seen recorded there. They are all gone now, and many of them forgotten.
An article by the Chicago Daily Herald talks about how some are trying to preserve at least one of those legendary record labels.
A new CD release has attempted to collect the now-forgotten sound of Vee-Jay Records. From about 1955 – 1966 Vee-Jay Records was actually the most-successful record label in Chicago. It was bigger than the more well-known Chess label that many musical historians recall with such fondness.
The Daily Herald story goes into great detail about the history of this great label and the CD that is being released. Just know that the label Vee-Jay Records, came from Chicago and was bigger than a lot of others for a while. Even the Beatles entered a partnership with them at one point. They had some of the biggest R& B and straight-up blues acts at the time recording for them.
Check out the story and then pick up the CD.
1 Comment
I recorded for Vee Jay Records in 1963 at age thirteen…Yong Boy was written by Richard Parker and Barrett Strong. The Dells sang background on the four tracks I recorded at Universal Studios in Chicago. I was only Fourteen when the record was released. It reached number 17 on the top twenty soul charts. I got the chance to audition for Mr. James Bracken through my God Mother Lorenza Porter who was lead singer of the Argo Gospel Singers. I teach High School in MIlwaukee, Wisconsin. Let me Hear Back from You…
Barbara Green