American Music Records
Encyclopedia
American Music Records is a United States
-based record label
specializing in traditional New Orleans jazz
.
The label was founded by William Russell
in 1944
, who ran the label almost entirely by himself for most of his life (sometimes with the help of others on individual recording sessions). Russell started the label to issue the recordings of early jazz
musicians like Bunk Johnson
and George Lewis
that he had made in New Orleans, Louisiana
.
At first the label was based in Russell's home town of Canton, Missouri
; Russell and the label moved to New Orleans at the start of the 1960s.
In the 1970s many American Music recordings were reissued on LP by Storyville Records
.
Around 1990, Russell sold the label to George H. Buck, who added it to his GHB/Jazzology Records
group and began issuing the recordings on compact disc
. Russell was surprised when the first CD issue of his Bunk Johnson recordings quickly sold more copies than had all of the American Music gramophone record
s in the preceding decades.
In addition to Russell's recordings, Buck also reissues historic recordings of New Orleans jazz originally on other labels, including Icon Records
, on the American Music label.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
specializing in traditional New Orleans jazz
New Orleans Jazz
New Orleans Jazz may refer to:*Dixieland, a style of jazz music*New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park*Utah Jazz, a professional National Basketball Association franchise that was previously based in New Orleans and known as the New Orleans Jazz, in recognition of the jazz music of New Orleans*A...
.
The label was founded by William Russell
Bill Russell (American Music)
William "Bill" Russell was an American music historian and modernist composer....
in 1944
1944 in music
-Events:*January 18 - The Metropolitan Opera House in New York City for the first time hosts a jazz concert; the performers are Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Artie Shaw, Roy Eldridge and Jack Teagarden....
, who ran the label almost entirely by himself for most of his life (sometimes with the help of others on individual recording sessions). Russell started the label to issue the recordings of early jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musicians like Bunk Johnson
Bunk Johnson
Willie Gary "Bunk" Johnson was a prominent early New Orleans jazz trumpet player in the early years of the 20th century who enjoyed a revived career in the 1940s....
and George Lewis
George Lewis (clarinetist)
George Lewis was an American jazz clarinetist who achieved his greatest fame and influence in the later decades of his life.-Ancestry:...
that he had made in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
At first the label was based in Russell's home town of Canton, Missouri
Canton, Missouri
Canton is a city in Lewis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,557 at the 2000 census. Canton is the site of Culver-Stockton College, a small liberal arts college affiliated with the Christian Church...
; Russell and the label moved to New Orleans at the start of the 1960s.
In the 1970s many American Music recordings were reissued on LP by Storyville Records
Storyville Records
Storyville Records is a large international record label based in Copenhagen, Denmark, specializing in jazz and blues music. Besides its original material, Storyville Records has licensed and reissued many vintage jazz recordings that previously appeared on such labels as Paramount Records,...
.
Around 1990, Russell sold the label to George H. Buck, who added it to his GHB/Jazzology Records
Jazzology Records
Jazzology Records is a United States based record label specializing in traditional jazz.Jazzology was founded in 1949 by George H. Buck, who still runs it, now under the auspices of the George H. Buck, Jr. Foundation, dedicated to the preservation great jazz recordings...
group and began issuing the recordings on compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
. Russell was surprised when the first CD issue of his Bunk Johnson recordings quickly sold more copies than had all of the American Music gramophone record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
s in the preceding decades.
In addition to Russell's recordings, Buck also reissues historic recordings of New Orleans jazz originally on other labels, including Icon Records
Icon Records
Icon Records, in association with Universal Music Group, is a Canadian record label established by Rui Da Silva in 2006 and distributed through Fontana Distribution.-Artists:* Jason Blaine* Mike Callan* Joelle* John Landry* George Jones...
, on the American Music label.