Louisville 60's Labels

[Dave Thorley]

Hi Guys

What can anyone tell me about stuff from the city in the 60's. Been through the city a few times and can never really get a handle on it's 60's output.

Did it have that big a music industry ?

Anyone have any label listing?

Anyone have any scans of old music articals ?

I Know a bit more about it's 70's/80's stuff, but would be interested. I have the Heartbreakers on Derby City, but off the top of my head that's the only one from the 60's

Dave

[boba]

Hi Guys

What can anyone tell me about stuff from the city in the 60's. Been through the city a few times and can never really get a handle on it's 60's output.

Did it have that big a music industry ?

Anyone have any label listing?

Anyone have any scans of old music articals ?

I Know a bit more about it's 70's/80's stuff, but would be interested. I have the Heartbreakers on Derby City, but off the top of my head that's the only one from the 60's

Dave

a lot of louisville acts went to ohio to record in the 60s. for example, donny murphy and the ambassadors on redbug, who became the soul ambassadors on sound stage seven. there are a bunch of other examples. for example roosevelt and the seven cs (who initially recorded on blackjack in ohio before recording on rondo) are from louisville.

rondo was one of the main louisville labels in the early 70s, I'm not sure if they started by '69? in the early 70s there was also the jay-sum label.

the heartbreakers on derby city is from 1970. The heartbreakers on miracle (also a louisville label) is from '69, so that predates your derby city example.

obviously one of the most important musical acts to come out of louisville was harvey fuqua and the moonglows.

bobbi downs on correc-tone is from louisville, he previously sang lead in the doowop group little pete and the youngsters and was later in the new birth.

[Dave Thorley]

a lot of louisville acts went to ohio to record in the 60s. for example, donny murphy and the ambassadors on redbug, who became the soul ambassadors on sound stage seven. there are a bunch of other examples. for example roosevelt and the seven cs (who initially recorded on blackjack in ohio before recording on rondo) are from louisville.

rondo was one of the main louisville labels in the early 70s, I'm not sure if they started by '69? in the early 70s there was also the jay-sum label.

the heartbreakers on derby city is from 1970. The heartbreakers on miracle (also a louisville label) is from '69, so that predates your derby city example.

obviously one of the most important musical acts to come out of louisville was harvey fuqua and the moonglows.

bobbi downs on correc-tone is from louisville, he previously sang lead in the doowop group little pete and the youngsters and was later in the new birth.

Hi Bob

Thanks for that, some of that I was aware of, some not. It seems that it lacked that home town power house type of lable that alot of other cities had, and as you say seems alot of the groups traveled else where for success.

I know that in the 70's through the Harvey Fuqua connection some of the members of both The Nite-Lighters & New Birth came from Louisville, but it always seems to be a city without it's own strong music industry. I know Butch (lead singer with the Heartbreakers) well. He had a nice cd out a couple of years ago, that gained a little interest over here. Also the 70's gem Detroit Sounds Of Friction is credited to a Louisville lable, but no one in Louisville seemd to remember the group or the label

In the 80's Ron (Mr Wonderful) Lewis put out a fair bit of material and Jerry Green was fairly active with his own stuff. Jerry still hosts his club every saturday night in the city, where he picks up the mic and sings a medley of soul classics and some of his own material.

Thanks

Dave

Edited February 13, 2010 by Dave Thorley

[boba]

Hi Bob

Thanks for that, some of that I was aware of, some not. It seems that it lacked that home town power house type of lable that alot of other cities had, and as you say seems alot of the groups traveled else where for success.

I know that in the 70's through the Harvey Fuqua connection some of the members of both The Nite-Lighters & New Birth came from Louisville, but it always seems to be a city without it's own strong music industry. I know Butch (lead singer with the Heartbreakers) well. He had a nice cd out a couple of years ago, that gained a little interest over here. Also the 70's gem Detroit Sounds Of Friction is credited to a Louisville lable, but no one in Louisville seemd to remember the group or the label

In the 80's Ron (Mr Wonderful) Lewis put out a fair bit of material and Jerry Green was fairly active with his own stuff. Jerry still hosts his club every saturday night in the city, where he picks up the mic and sings a medley of soul classics and some of his own material.

Thanks

Dave

you know there's another derby city record, right, by dede townsend?

[Soulfulsolutions]

Got to say, neither side lived up to the expectation of the label set by the Heartbreakers!!! Lee

[George G]

Hi Guys

What can anyone tell me about stuff from the city in the 60's. Been through the city a few times and can never really get a handle on it's 60's output.

Did it have that big a music industry ?

Anyone have any label listing?

Anyone have any scans of old music articals ?

I Know a bit more about it's 70's/80's stuff, but would be interested. I have the Heartbreakers on Derby City, but off the top of my head that's the only one from the 60's

Dave

I know a fair amount about rock bands from there. Some of them cross over into soul, at least what is considered soul 45 years later.

1. Yes, although it was rather incestuous. Many bands started in the early 1960s and as these bands broke up, the displaced members formed new ones - Monarchs, Cosmo and the Counts, Chateaus, Soul, Inc, Oxfords, etc. The Rugbys had a big US hit in 1969.

The main recording studio was Allen-Martin. AM were a major regional studio who recorded bands from Louisville and Indiana and Ohio. Most of the 1960s Counterpart label from Cincinnati 45s (Gerri Diamond, etc) were done there. There's a website that says something about the tape archives being bought and possibly some reissue program.

2. Tilt, Top Dog, Boss, Jam were some of the big local labels. Top Dog and Boss (not to be confused with other labels of the same name) were connected to Allen-Martin recordings. There were also some obscure/vanity labels like Trump.

3. Get a book called "Louisville's Own" and start from there. Soul, Inc has (had?) a website that might be a way in to learn more.

- George

[George G]

a lot of louisville acts went to ohio to record in the 60s. for example, donny murphy and the ambassadors on redbug, who became the soul ambassadors on sound stage seven. there are a bunch of other examples. for example roosevelt and the seven cs (who initially recorded on blackjack in ohio before recording on rondo) are from louisville.

rondo was one of the main louisville labels in the early 70s, I'm not sure if they started by '69? in the early 70s there was also the jay-sum label.

the heartbreakers on derby city is from 1970. The heartbreakers on miracle (also a louisville label) is from '69, so that predates your derby city example.

obviously one of the most important musical acts to come out of louisville was harvey fuqua and the moonglows.

bobbi downs on correc-tone is from louisville, he previously sang lead in the doowop group little pete and the youngsters and was later in the new birth.

I think the first Rondo record was from 1968. I have 5-6 45s on this label. I don't think I've even listened to all the ones I have....

I was contacted by Donnie Murphy's family, I was under the impression he was from Dayton. He died in 1966 so I think the only record he made was the Red Bug 45. His family was from Dayton and they only mentioned the one 45. Been a while since I've seen my notes but I think he was related to somebody(s) from the Moroccos.

- George

[boba]

I think the first Rondo record was from 1968. I have 5-6 45s on this label. I don't think I've even listened to all the ones I have....

I was contacted by Donnie Murphy's family, I was under the impression he was from Dayton. He died in 1966 so I think the only record he made was the Red Bug 45. His family was from Dayton and they only mentioned the one 45. Been a while since I've seen my notes but I think he was related to somebody(s) from the Moroccos.

- George

my info about the ambassadors came from someone who talked to a group member, i can follow up if you care

[Guest DeeJay]

I know a fair amount about rock bands from there. Some of them cross over into soul, at least what is considered soul 45 years later.

1. Yes, although it was rather incestuous. Many bands started in the early 1960s and as these bands broke up, the displaced members formed new ones - Monarchs, Cosmo and the Counts, Chateaus, Soul, Inc, Oxfords, etc. The Rugbys had a big US hit in 1969.

The main recording studio was Allen-Martin. AM were a major regional studio who recorded bands from Louisville and Indiana and Ohio. Most of the 1960s Counterpart label from Cincinnati 45s (Gerri Diamond, etc) were done there. There's a website that says something about the tape archives being bought and possibly some reissue program.

2. Tilt, Top Dog, Boss, Jam were some of the big local labels. Top Dog and Boss (not to be confused with other labels of the same name) were connected to Allen-Martin recordings. There were also some obscure/vanity labels like Trump.

3. Get a book called "Louisville's Own" and start from there. Soul, Inc has (had?) a website that might be a way in to learn more.

- George

As usual George your knowledge amazes me:thumbup:

DJ