Gennett Records

Gennett Records was an American independent record label. Bennett was one of the most successful labels of the 1920s and is considered important for the promotion of jazz.

  • 3.1 Notes and references
  • 3.2 External links

History

Founded by Starr

Already in 1915 sold the Starr Piano Company under their label Starr Records recording discs; However the project was set back due to poor sales. Although there are various data from 1915 to 1919, Starr founded in fact in October 1917, the Gennett Records to tap the pool of records. Initially also gramophones were produced under the name of Bennett, but they were only sold in Indiana. The studios of the Gennett Records were located in New York City, New York, ( 37th Street ), 1921 were also studios in Richmond, Indiana, the seat of the label set.

During the recordings from New York had an average quality, fought the studio in Richmond with problems in recording technology that had solved the major labels as RCA Victor and Columbia Records as 20 years earlier. It often resulted in poor sound on the plates.

Rise

In the 1920s, Bennett became one of the United States, the most sought-after label. Especially in the field of jazz showed the label with artists such as Jelly Roll Morton, Bix Beiderbecke, New Orleans Rhythm Kings, Joe "King" Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Original New Orleans Jazz Band ( Johnny Stone ), Thomas A. Dorsey and other instrumental in the development. For the first time large awareness gained the label as Jelly Roll Morton on 17 July 1923, the piano solo King Porter Stomp grossed that rose in the subsequent big band era jazz standard. While large corporations have focused on a kind of " mainstream jazz ," Bennett was not afraid to make recordings of alternative styles and musicians. But not only in the field of jazz, the label also famous Old -Time and hillbilly musicians such as Vernon Dalhart, Carson Robison, Ernest Stoneman and David Miller was active measures for Gennett on. Also some Delta blues musicians as Blind Lemon Jefferson and Big Bill Broonzy stood at Gennett under contract.

From 1926 it began - after some initial problems - the principle of "electrical recordings" apply that General Electric had developed. The new recording technology has set new standards in terms of sound. Besides Gennetts sublabels the label also produced plates of other companies such Supertone Records, Silvertone Records and Challenge Records. In addition, they had contracts with autograph, Rainbow, Hitch, KKK, Our Song and Vaughn, whose plates pressed Gennett.

Decline

1930, the global economic crisis the Gennett label greatly, and you had to reduce its production by a considerable extent. By 1934, only a few pictures were taken, mainly sound effects for radio stations. 1935 sold the Starr Piano Company, together with the label Champion Records and the entire catalog of Decca Records, which led to 1937 on both labels with little success. The end for Gennett Records came shortly after the end of World War II. Previously, the music publisher and producer Joe Davis had attempted a revival of the label.

Presence

Founded in 1991, Starr - Gennett Foundation called the 2007 Gennett Walk of Fame to life, to honor the most influential and important artists of the Gennett Records. The Walk of Fame is located in Richmond along the building of the Starr Piano Company. The following musicians have been immortalized on the Walk of Fame:

2007:

  • Louis Armstrong
  • Bix Beiderbecke
  • Jelly Roll Morton
  • Hoagy Carmichael
  • Gene Autry
  • Vernon Dalhart
  • Big Bill Broonzy
  • Georgia Tom
  • Joe Oliver
  • Lawrence Welk

2008:

2009:

2010:

2011:

Sources and links

Richmond (Indiana) Old-Time Music David Miller (musician) Challenge Records (1920s) Joe Davis (music publisher) Lonnie Johnson (musician)
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