Black Top Records
Encyclopedia
Black Top Records was a New Orleans, Louisiana
based independent record label
founded in 1981
by brothers Nauman S. Scott, III and Hammond Scott. The label specialized in blues
and R&B music. The first release was "Talk To You By Hand" by Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets
. The artist roster included Earl King
, Snooks Eaglin
, Lee Rocker
, Guitar Shorty
, and Robert Ward
, among others.
, Carol Fran
& Clarence Hollimon, and W. C. Clark
were either relatively unknown, or had been away from record contracts and/or the music business for many years. The label used a variety of musicians on its recordings, including many from the New Orleans music community. Examples include George Porter, Jr.
, David Torkanowsky, Herman V. Ernest, III, and Sammy Berfect; Black Top also often hired the members of the Antone's house band from Austin, Texas
, including Mark Kazanoff on saxophone. Pianist and organist Nick Connolly, also based in Austin, was another musician who recorded several sessions. Although Black Top concentrated on recording new material for the most part, it also handled some vintage reissues from artists such as Earl Hooker
and Hollywood Fats
.
Initially, its catalog was distributed by Rounder Records
. When the contract ended in the mid-nineties, Passport Music took over distribution for a brief period of time; Chicago blues label Alligator Records
distributed the Black Top catalog after that.
After releasing well over 100 albums, the label folded in 1999
. Nauman Scott died in 2002. Hammond Scott sold the rights of the catalog, and some releases were reissued on labels such as Varèse Sarabande
, Fuel 2000
and Shout! Factory
. In 2006, P-Vine Records
in Japan
acquired the worldwide rights to them, and has reissued a few of the CDs from the catalog.
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...
based independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
founded in 1981
1981 in music
See also:* Timeline of musical eventsThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1981.-January–April:*January 10 – A revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadway's Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith.*January 24 –...
by brothers Nauman S. Scott, III and Hammond Scott. The label specialized in blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and R&B music. The first release was "Talk To You By Hand" by Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets
Anson Funderburgh
Anson Funderburgh is an American blues guitar player and bandleader of Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets since 1978...
. The artist roster included Earl King
Earl King
This article is about the musical artist. For the Earl King convicted of murdering a ship's officer, see Earl King, Ernest Ramsay, and Frank Conner...
, Snooks Eaglin
Snooks Eaglin
Snooks Eaglin, born Fird Eaglin, Jr. , was a New Orleans-based guitarist and singer. He was also referred to as Blind Snooks Eaglin in his early years....
, Lee Rocker
Lee Rocker
Lee Rocker is an American rockabilly double bass player. He is the son of the classical clarinetists Stanley Drucker and Naomi Drucker. His sister Roseanne is a country music singer-songwriter...
, Guitar Shorty
Guitar Shorty
Guitar Shorty is an American blues guitarist. He is well known for his explosive guitar style and wild stage antics. Billboard magazine said, “his galvanizing guitar work defines modern, top-of-the-line blues-rock. His vocals remain as forceful as ever...
, and Robert Ward
Robert Ward (blues musician)
Robert Ward was an American blues and soul guitarist. He was known for founding the Ohio Untouchables, the band that later would become the Ohio Players...
, among others.
History
The label started out primarily as a blues label, and soon stretched out to New Orleans R&B and American roots music. Black Top especially excelled in discovering obscure talents. Many of the label's artists such as Robert WardRobert Ward (blues musician)
Robert Ward was an American blues and soul guitarist. He was known for founding the Ohio Untouchables, the band that later would become the Ohio Players...
, Carol Fran
Carol Fran
Carol Fran is an African American soul blues singer, pianist and songwriter. Fran is best known for her string of single releases in the 1950s and 1960s, and her later musical association with her husband, Clarence Hollimon...
& Clarence Hollimon, and W. C. Clark
W. C. Clark
W. C. Clark is an American blues musician. He is known as the "Godfather of Austin Blues" for his influence on the Austin, Texas blues scene since the late 1960s.-Biography:...
were either relatively unknown, or had been away from record contracts and/or the music business for many years. The label used a variety of musicians on its recordings, including many from the New Orleans music community. Examples include George Porter, Jr.
George Porter, Jr.
George Porter, Jr. is a musician best known as the bassist and singer of The Meters. Along with Art Neville, Porter formed the group in the mid 60's and came to be recognized as one of the progenitors of funk. The Meters disbanded in 1977, but reformed in 1989...
, David Torkanowsky, Herman V. Ernest, III, and Sammy Berfect; Black Top also often hired the members of the Antone's house band from Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, including Mark Kazanoff on saxophone. Pianist and organist Nick Connolly, also based in Austin, was another musician who recorded several sessions. Although Black Top concentrated on recording new material for the most part, it also handled some vintage reissues from artists such as Earl Hooker
Earl Hooker
Earl Hooker was an American Chicago blues guitarist, perhaps best known for his slide guitar playing. Considered a "musician's musician", Hooker performed with blues artists such as Sonny Boy Williamson II, Junior Wells, and John Lee Hooker as well as fronting his own bands...
and Hollywood Fats
Hollywood Fats
Hollywood Fats was an American blues guitarist, active in Los Angeles, California.-Biography:Hollywood Fats was born Michael Leonard Mann in Los Angeles, and started playing guitar at the age of 10...
.
Initially, its catalog was distributed by Rounder Records
Rounder Records
Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
. When the contract ended in the mid-nineties, Passport Music took over distribution for a brief period of time; Chicago blues label Alligator Records
Alligator Records
Alligator Records is a Chicago-based independent blues record label founded by Bruce Iglauer in 1971.Iglauer started the label with his own savings to record and produce his favorite band Hound Dog Taylor & The HouseRockers, whom his employer, Bob Koester of Delmark Records, declined to record...
distributed the Black Top catalog after that.
After releasing well over 100 albums, the label folded in 1999
1999 in music
-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
. Nauman Scott died in 2002. Hammond Scott sold the rights of the catalog, and some releases were reissued on labels such as Varèse Sarabande
Varèse Sarabande
Varèse Sarabande is an American record label, distributed by Universal Music Group, which specializes in film scores and original cast recordings. It aims to reissue rare or unavailable albums as well as newer releases by artists no longer under a contract...
, Fuel 2000
Fuel 2000
Formed in 1994, Fuel 2000 Records, part of the Fuel Label Group, has amassed an amazing catalog over 20,000 master recordings making it one of the biggest independent labels specializing in current music and deep catalog...
and Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory is an entertainment company founded in 2003 that was started by Richard Foos , Bob Emmer and Garson Foos initially as a specialty music label...
. In 2006, P-Vine Records
P-Vine Records
P-Vine Records is a record label started by Blues Interactions, Inc., a firm in Tokyo, Japan established in 1975 by Yasufumi Higurashi and Akira Kochi...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
acquired the worldwide rights to them, and has reissued a few of the CDs from the catalog.
Artists
- Solomon BurkeSolomon BurkeSolomon Burke was an American singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, mortician, and an archbishop of the United House of Prayer For All People. Burke was known as "King Solomon", the "King of Rock 'n' Soul", and as the "Bishop of Soul", and described as "the Muhammad Ali of soul", and as "the most...
- Earl KingEarl KingThis article is about the musical artist. For the Earl King convicted of murdering a ship's officer, see Earl King, Ernest Ramsay, and Frank Conner...
- Anson Funderburgh & The RocketsAnson FunderburghAnson Funderburgh is an American blues guitar player and bandleader of Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets since 1978...
(featuring Sam MyersSam MyersSam Myers was an American blues musician and songwriter. He appeared as an accompanist on dozens of recordings for blues artists over five decades. He began his career as a drummer for Elmore James, but was most famous as a blues vocalist and blues harp player...
) - Mike Morgan and the Crawl
- Maria MuldaurMaria MuldaurMaria Muldaur is a folk-blues singer who was part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s...
- Snooks EaglinSnooks EaglinSnooks Eaglin, born Fird Eaglin, Jr. , was a New Orleans-based guitarist and singer. He was also referred to as Blind Snooks Eaglin in his early years....
- Guitar ShortyGuitar ShortyGuitar Shorty is an American blues guitarist. He is well known for his explosive guitar style and wild stage antics. Billboard magazine said, “his galvanizing guitar work defines modern, top-of-the-line blues-rock. His vocals remain as forceful as ever...
- Rod Piazza & The Mighty FlyersRod PiazzaRod Piazza is an American blues harmonica player and singer. He has been playing with his band The Mighty Flyers since 1980 which he formed with his pianist wife Honey Piazza...
- Solomon BurkeSolomon BurkeSolomon Burke was an American singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, mortician, and an archbishop of the United House of Prayer For All People. Burke was known as "King Solomon", the "King of Rock 'n' Soul", and as the "Bishop of Soul", and described as "the Muhammad Ali of soul", and as "the most...
- Carol FranCarol FranCarol Fran is an African American soul blues singer, pianist and songwriter. Fran is best known for her string of single releases in the 1950s and 1960s, and her later musical association with her husband, Clarence Hollimon...
& Clarence Hollimon - Robert WardRobert Ward (blues musician)Robert Ward was an American blues and soul guitarist. He was known for founding the Ohio Untouchables, the band that later would become the Ohio Players...
- Nappy BrownNappy BrownNapoleon Brown Goodson Culp better known by his stage name Nappy Brown, was an American R&B singer. His hits include the 1955 Billboard chart #2, "Don't Be Angry" and "Night Time Is the Right Time"...
- James "Thunderbird" Davis
- W. C. ClarkW. C. ClarkW. C. Clark is an American blues musician. He is known as the "Godfather of Austin Blues" for his influence on the Austin, Texas blues scene since the late 1960s.-Biography:...
- Gary PrimichGary PrimichGary Primich was an American blues harmonica player, singer, guitarist and songwriter. He is best known for his 1995 album, Mr. Freeze.-Biography:...
- Omar & the HowlersOmar & the HowlersOmar & the Howlers is a Texas based electric blues and blues rock band, formed in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1973 by the blues guitarist and singer Omar Kent Dykes. Three years later they moved to Austin, Texas. The band has regularly toured European countries.-Early years:Dykes grew up in McComb,...
- Lee RockerLee RockerLee Rocker is an American rockabilly double bass player. He is the son of the classical clarinetists Stanley Drucker and Naomi Drucker. His sister Roseanne is a country music singer-songwriter...
- Lynn August
- Joe "Guitar" Hughes
- Bill KirchenBill KirchenBill Kirchen is an American rockabilly guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was the guitarist with the original Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen from 1967 to the mid 1970s, although, in reality, his time with the Commander accounts for only a portion of his career...
- Johnny DyerJohnny DyerJohnny Dyer is an American electric blues harmonicist and singer. He has received a nomination for a Blues Music Award, and been involved in a number of recordings in the last three decades, both as a solo performer and with other musicians.-Biography:Dyer grew up on the Stovall Plantation in...
- Rick HolmstromRick HolmstromRick Holmstrom is an American electric blues and rhythm and blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. Holmstrom has released five albums since 1996, and previously worked with William Clarke and Rod Piazza. In addition, Holmstrom has played and recorded with Jimmy Rogers, Billy Boy Arnold, Jody...
- Ronnie Earl & The BroadcastersRonnie EarlRonnie Earl is an American blues guitarist and music instructor.-Career:Earl collected blues, jazz, rock and soul records while growing up. He studied American History at C.W...
- Al CopleyAl CopleyAl Copley is a blues pianist who co-founded the American jump blues band Roomful of Blues with guitarist Duke Robillard in Westerly, Rhode Island in 1967. In 1974 Count Basie called Roomful "the hottest blues band I've ever heard". In 1975 Roomful signed a recording contract with Island Records,...
- Grady GainesGrady GainesGrady Gaines is an American electric blues, Texas blues and jazz blues tenor saxophonist, who recorded with Little Richard in the 1950s. He also backed other musicians such as Dee Clark, Little Willie John, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and Joe Tex...
- Ron Levy's Wild KingdomRon LevyRon Levy is an American electric blues musician and composer.Levy was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. He primarily plays piano and organ. Levy grew up in Cambridge, and began playing the piano after seeing Ray Charles in concert at age 13. He later switched to playing a Hammond...
- Bobby RadcliffBobby RadcliffBobby Radcliff is an American blues guitarist and singer.Radcliff was raised in Bethesda, Maryland, where he played in blues clubs after picking up the guitar at the age of 12. He also visited Chicago several times, where he met musicians such as Magic Sam...
- Bobby Parker (guitarist)
- The Neville BrothersThe Neville BrothersThe Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in New Orleans, Louisiana.-History:The group notion started in 1976, when the four brothers of the Neville family, Art , Charles , Aaron , and Cyril The Neville Brothers, an American R&B and soul group, was formed in 1977 in...
- Earl GainesEarl GainesEarl Gaines was an American soul blues and electric blues singer. Born in Decatur, Alabama, he sang lead vocals on the hit single "It's Love Baby ", accredited to Louis Brooks and his Hi-Toppers, before undertaking a low-key solo career...
- Robert EaleyRobert EaleyRobert Ealey was an African American electric blues singer, who performed Texas blues. Among other releases, he recorded a couple of albums for Black Top Records in the 1990s, having earlier formed a duo with U.P. Wilson...