Sabre Records
Encyclopedia
Sabre Records was a Chicago
-based label founded in 1953 by Art Sheridan. It specialized in blues
, jazz
, and doo-wop
.
Sabre closed down at the end of 1954, when its former owner became one of the financial backers of Vee-Jay
, which was growing into a powerhouse of the independent record business.
, a successful independent record label that Art Sheridan, who previously operated a record distributor and a pressing plant, opened in September 1950.
By 1953, Chance had built a roster of artists and was recording prolifically Sheridan was running both Chance Records and American Record Distributors out of an office at 1151 East 47th Street. By June of that year, he needed a new outlet to accommodate his expanding catalog, so he opened Sabre at 1225 East 47th Street.
The first Sabre release appeared in July 1953. It featured veteran blues performer Tampa Red
, whose 19-year affiliation with RCA Victor was coming to an end, appearing under the pseudonym “Jimmy Eager.” Backing was provided by what had become Sheridan’s house band, directed by bassist Al Smith and featuring tenor saxophonist Red Holloway
, guitarist Lefty Bates
, and drummer Vernel Fournier
.
Sabre also released a classic single by another member of Sheridan’s blues roster, Willie Nix
.
Although the more famous vocal groups, The Moonglows
and The Flamingos
, released their records on Chance
, Sabre featured two doo-wop
releases by the Five Blue Notes and three by the Five Echoes; one of the Echoes’ singles included guest lead vocalist Walter Spriggs, going under the unconvincing stage name “Wally Wilson.” Backing for these sessions was provided by the bands of Ike “Fats” Cole and Al Smith.
Finally, Sabre recorded the jazz groups of Ben Bryant and Johnny Miller.
In June 1954, Al Smith and his corps of studio musicians moved to Vee-Jay
. Sabre made its last release in August 1954. Sheridan wound down his labels in December 1954, becoming an unpublicized investor in the newer company.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
-based label founded in 1953 by Art Sheridan. It 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...
, 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...
, and doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
.
Sabre closed down at the end of 1954, when its former owner became one of the financial backers of Vee-Jay
Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records is a record label founded in the 1950s, specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. It was owned and operated by African Americans.-History:...
, which was growing into a powerhouse of the independent record business.
History
Sabre was a subsidiary of Chance RecordsChance Records
Chance Records was a Chicago-based label founded in 1950 by Art Sheridan. It specialized in blues, jazz, doo-wop, and gospel.Among the acts who recorded for Chance were The Flamingos, The Moonglows, Homesick James, J. B. Hutto, Brother John Sellers, and Schoolboy Porter...
, a successful independent record label that Art Sheridan, who previously operated a record distributor and a pressing plant, opened in September 1950.
By 1953, Chance had built a roster of artists and was recording prolifically Sheridan was running both Chance Records and American Record Distributors out of an office at 1151 East 47th Street. By June of that year, he needed a new outlet to accommodate his expanding catalog, so he opened Sabre at 1225 East 47th Street.
The first Sabre release appeared in July 1953. It featured veteran blues performer Tampa Red
Tampa Red
Tampa Red , born Hudson Woodbridge but known from childhood as Hudson Whittaker, was an American Chicago blues musician....
, whose 19-year affiliation with RCA Victor was coming to an end, appearing under the pseudonym “Jimmy Eager.” Backing was provided by what had become Sheridan’s house band, directed by bassist Al Smith and featuring tenor saxophonist Red Holloway
Red Holloway
James W. "Red" Holloway is an American jazz tenor saxophonist.-Biography:Holloway started playing banjo and harmonica, switching to tenor sax when he was twelve years old...
, guitarist Lefty Bates
Lefty Bates
Lefty Bates was an American Chicago blues guitarist. He led the Lefty Bates Combo, and variously worked with the El Dorados, the Flamingos, Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Etta James, the Aristo-Kats, the Hi-De-Ho Boys, the Moroccos, the Impressions, and a latter day version of the Ink Spots...
, and drummer Vernel Fournier
Vernel fournier
Vernel Anthony Fournier and, from 1975, known as Amir Rushdan, was a jazz drummer probably best known for his work with Ahmad Jamal from 1956 to 1962....
.
Sabre also released a classic single by another member of Sheridan’s blues roster, Willie Nix
Willie Nix
Willie Nix was an American Chicago blues singer and drummer, active in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, in the 1940s and 1950s.-Life and career:...
.
Although the more famous vocal groups, The Moonglows
The Moonglows
The Moonglows were an American R&B and doo-wop group based in Cleveland, Ohio.-Early years:Originally formed in their native Louisville, Kentucky as the Crazy Sounds, the group moved to Cleveland, where disc jockey Alan Freed renamed them 'the Moonglows'...
and The Flamingos
The Flamingos
The Flamingos were a doo wop group from the United States, most popular in the mid to late 1950s and best known for their 1959 cover version of "I Only Have Eyes for You".-Early quintet:...
, released their records on Chance
Chance Records
Chance Records was a Chicago-based label founded in 1950 by Art Sheridan. It specialized in blues, jazz, doo-wop, and gospel.Among the acts who recorded for Chance were The Flamingos, The Moonglows, Homesick James, J. B. Hutto, Brother John Sellers, and Schoolboy Porter...
, Sabre featured two doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
releases by the Five Blue Notes and three by the Five Echoes; one of the Echoes’ singles included guest lead vocalist Walter Spriggs, going under the unconvincing stage name “Wally Wilson.” Backing for these sessions was provided by the bands of Ike “Fats” Cole and Al Smith.
Finally, Sabre recorded the jazz groups of Ben Bryant and Johnny Miller.
In June 1954, Al Smith and his corps of studio musicians moved to Vee-Jay
Vee-Jay Records
Vee-Jay Records is a record label founded in the 1950s, specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. It was owned and operated by African Americans.-History:...
. Sabre made its last release in August 1954. Sheridan wound down his labels in December 1954, becoming an unpublicized investor in the newer company.
Releases
| Catalog # | Artist | A-side | B-side | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | "I Should Have Loved Her More” | ”Please Mr. Doctor” | ||
| 101 | "Cats Delight" | "Blue Midnight" | ||
| 102 | ”Baby, Come Back to Me” | ”Lonely Mood” | ||
| 103 | ”Ooh Baby” | ”My Gal Is Gone}} | ||
| 104 | ”Just Can’t Stay” | ”All by Myself” | ||
| 105 | ”So Lonesome” | ”Broke” | ||
| 106 | ”If You Don’t Love Me” | ”The Hunt” | ||
| 108 | ”You Gotta Go Baby” | ”The Beat of Our Hearts” | ||
| 109 | ”I Cover the Waterfront” | ”Always” | ||