Duke Records

[Tommy1]

Was trying to find some info on Duke Records, but this was all I found:

Duke Records was a record label started in Memphis, Tennessee in 1952 by David James Mattis (WDIA program director and DJ) and Bill Fitzgerald, owners of Tri-State Recording Company.Their first release was Roscoe Gordon singing "Hey Fat Girl" ... issued on Duke R-1, later amended to R-101.After forming a partnership with Mattis in the summer of 1952, Don D. Robey (founder of Houston's Peacock Records) got control of Duke. Both labels then headquartered at the Bronze Peacock club at 2809 Erastus Street in Houston.They started subsidiary Back Beat Records, which specialised in soul music, in 1957. The Duke label was sold to ABC Dunhill Records on 23 May 1973.

Am I a bad googler or is this all there is?

[Sebastian]

Some more info here:

https://www.yearoftheblues.org/features.asp...CE5C231CA}&

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peacock_Records

https://www.bsnpubs.com/abc/robey.html

[Guest posstot]

Was trying to find some info on Duke Records, but this was all I found:

Duke Records was a record label started in Memphis, Tennessee in 1952 by David James Mattis (WDIA program director and DJ) and Bill Fitzgerald, owners of Tri-State Recording Company.Their first release was Roscoe Gordon singing "Hey Fat Girl" ... issued on Duke R-1, later amended to R-101.After forming a partnership with Mattis in the summer of 1952, Don D. Robey (founder of Houston's Peacock Records) got control of Duke. Both labels then headquartered at the Bronze Peacock club at 2809 Erastus Street in Houston.They started subsidiary Back Beat Records, which specialised in soul music, in 1957. The Duke label was sold to ABC Dunhill Records on 23 May 1973.

Am I a bad googler or is this all there is?

Bloodyhell, i have a book called RnB the early years(or something like that). And i can't find it right now. I will get back to you with book title etc asap. This book gives a full history, with some great photo's of artists/radio stations and all sorts of info regading Peacock, Duke and Back beat. I did get it from beat n rythm some years ago. May be worth googling the book!!

Mike

[Sunnysoul]

They could make a bloody great Hollywood movie on the life of label owner Don Robey !!!

[Dave Rimmer]

Bloodyhell, i have a book called RnB the early years(or something like that). And i can't find it right now. I will get back to you with book title etc asap. This book gives a full history, with some great photo's of artists/radio stations and all sorts of info regading Peacock, Duke and Back beat. I did get it from beat n rythm some years ago. May be worth googling the book!!

Mike

You don't want to sell the book do you Mike ? I'll pay a good price for it.

[Guest posstot]

You don't want to sell the book do you Mike ? I'll pay a good price for it.

bloody, bloody hell!!...............let me get back to you on that one Dave. I'll Pm you taters.

Info on the book for Tommy1. the book is called the early years of Rhythm and Blues by Alan Govenar.

In the early 1950's, when Houston was the home of this countrys' most vital Rhythm and Blues, Benny Joseph was hired by Don Robey to photograph the rising stars of his two record labals, Duke and Peacock. Artists, such as Bobby (blue) Bland, Clarence (Gatemouth) Brown, Johnnny Ace and Junior Parker(whose "Mystery Train" inspired a young Elvis Presley) were making a new kind of southern blues that would strongly influence subsequent pop, soul and gospel sounds.................Leo Sacks New York Times 1991!!!!

There is all sorts of insights into the lifes of people connected to the label. Written and photographic!!

Howevr it may well be difficult to get a hold of, if Dave "the teacher" Rimmer wants mine off me . So good luck.

By the by, if there is any information you are particulary interested in, perhaps i could trawl through and let you know.

(The book is even translated into french at the rear!!)

[Guest posstot]

The Book is available on Amazon.com.

[Tommy1]

Info on the book for Tommy1. the book is called the early years of Rhythm and Blues by Alan Govenar.

Thanks a lot , just bought it

[Philippe]

The Book is available on Amazon.com.

They say it has 80 pages, true ?

[Guest posstot]

They say it has 80 pages, true ?

Yes there are some 112 in all...The book is half text and half photography.(the photography of Benny Joseph).

As for text there are some 40 pages of that mixed with a few label scans, album covers and ting. Then as i've said Bennys' photos. They are, as is the book, a summary of Houston. Its Rnb Scene and some of the dancehalls', radio stations- events, its performers and its main man Don Robey.

Some interesting info in there, and some nice b&w promotional photos of Junior Parker, Lightnin' Slim, Toni Williams(female artist), Buddy Ace and others. And some other interesting photos of Houston, its teen dancers to its religious leaders and players. I'd love to see all of Benny Josephs' photo's from the period.

Oh! and after years of wandering who the song writer D.Malone is, i now know thanks to this book. But then again, not really!!

Mike

Edited December 16, 2008 by posstot

[Guest Brett F]

i'm off to buy it too.thanks people.

Brett

[Dave Rimmer]

bloody, bloody hell!!...............let me get back to you on that one Dave. I'll Pm you taters.

Info on the book for Tommy1. the book is called the early years of Rhythm and Blues by Alan Govenar.

In the early 1950's, when Houston was the home of this countrys' most vital Rhythm and Blues, Benny Joseph was hired by Don Robey to photograph the rising stars of his two record labals, Duke and Peacock. Artists, such as Bobby (blue) Bland, Clarence (Gatemouth) Brown, Johnnny Ace and Junior Parker(whose "Mystery Train" inspired a young Elvis Presley) were making a new kind of southern blues that would strongly influence subsequent pop, soul and gospel sounds.................Leo Sacks New York Times 1991!!!!

There is all sorts of insights into the lifes of people connected to the label. Written and photographic!!

Howevr it may well be difficult to get a hold of, if Dave "the teacher" Rimmer wants mine off me . So good luck.

By the by, if there is any information you are particulary interested in, perhaps i could trawl through and let you know.

(The book is even translated into french at the rear!!)

Ha ha, It's not the book I was thinking of. There was, about 20 years ago, a book specifically about Duke / Peacock Records which was quite pricey at the time. It was soon out of print, and I've never found a copy since (Well to be honest I was offered a copy at £140 )

Having said that, I haven't got this book either, so I've just bought a copy off Amazon

This is the one I thought you were talking about

Duke Peacock Records: An Illustrated History With Discography by Galen Gart and Roy C. Ames (Paperback - Jun 1989)

Just found a copy on Amazon.com.....it's for sale at $1899.00

Edited December 16, 2008 by Dave Rimmer

[mikeysoul]

Dave

In The Basement mag #43 (Aug - Oct 2006) has a 4 page article on Duke-Peacock.

If you PM your address I can take to work & photocopy for you tomorrow. You will probably just have to acknowledge them as a source if the info used anywhere.

Regards

Mike

[Dave Rimmer]

Dave

In The Basement mag #43 (Aug - Oct 2006) has a 4 page article on Duke-Peacock.

If you PM your address I can take to work & photocopy for you tomorrow. You will probably just have to acknowledge them as a source if the info used anywhere.

Regards

Mike

Thanks, but it wasn't me that was originally asking for info on Duke, and I've got the copy of 'In The Basement' as well, great read.

[Guest Brett F]

Just found a copy on Amazon.com.....it's for sale at $1899.00

[mikeysoul]

Oops, sorry, a little over zealous. A good read agreed

[Guest posstot]

Ha ha, It's not the book I was thinking of. There was, about 20 years ago, a book specifically about Duke / Peacock Records which was quite pricey at the time. It was soon out of print, and I've never found a copy since (Well to be honest I was offered a copy at £140 )

Having said that, I haven't got this book either, so I've just bought a copy off Amazon

This is the one I thought you were talking about

Duke Peacock Records: An Illustrated History With Discography by Galen Gart and Roy C. Ames (Paperback - Jun 1989)

Just found a copy on Amazon.com.....it's for sale at $1899.00

I'll give that one a miss then

[jocko]

Ha ha, It's not the book I was thinking of. There was, about 20 years ago, a book specifically about Duke / Peacock Records which was quite pricey at the time. It was soon out of print, and I've never found a copy since (Well to be honest I was offered a copy at £140 )

Having said that, I haven't got this book either, so I've just bought a copy off Amazon

This is the one I thought you were talking about

Duke Peacock Records: An Illustrated History With Discography by Galen Gart and Roy C. Ames (Paperback - Jun 1989)

Just found a copy on Amazon.com.....it's for sale at $1899.00

Hi Dave,

have you ever seen a copy of the Duke/Peacock book? Something in the back of my mind tells me I read somewhere that it was either a scam or just that no-one had seen it. However there are a lot of strange things in the back of my mind so can't guarantee my memory is right!

Might be worth dropping David Cole at ITB a line as sure he has a pretty comprehensive book collection.

If it does exist I would love a copy, after Dave off course, but would like it considerable cheaper than above!

ANd thanks for tip on book on this thread, just bought it off Amazon.co.uk, cheers.

[Dave Rimmer]

Hi Dave,

have you ever seen a copy of the Duke/Peacock book? Something in the back of my mind tells me I read somewhere that it was either a scam or just that no-one had seen it. However there are a lot of strange things in the back of my mind so can't guarantee my memory is right!

Might be worth dropping David Cole at ITB a line as sure he has a pretty comprehensive book collection.

If it does exist I would love a copy, after Dave off course, but would like it considerable cheaper than above!

ANd thanks for tip on book on this thread, just bought it off Amazon.co.uk, cheers.

Hi Jock

Yes I have seen the book, Lorraine (?) who used to be Brian Rae's partner showed me the book when it first came out, but I've never seen another, in the flesh so to speak, since. It's got a blue and purple cover with the old Duke logo on it.

I've even tried contacting Galen Gart to see if he can obtain a copy for me. He hasn't got any left either. I've been searching for it now for about fifteen years, and as I said earlier was offered a copy at £140, which it looks like it was a bargain, it just seemed a lot then ! Mind you, if I'd got one and discovered I could sell it at $1899, I'd sell it like a shot

I wonder if Amazon's system registers the fact that they have sold four or five copies of the other book within a 24 hour period, when I bet they don't normally sell that many a month

[mshoals]

Hi Jock

Yes I have seen the book, Lorraine (?) who used to be Brian Rae's partner showed me the book when it first came out, but I've never seen another, in the flesh so to speak, since. It's got a blue and purple cover with the old Duke logo on it.

I've even tried contacting Galen Gart to see if he can obtain a copy for me. He hasn't got any left either. I've been searching for it now for about fifteen years, and as I said earlier was offered a copy at £140, which it looks like it was a bargain, it just seemed a lot then ! Mind you, if I'd got one and discovered I could sell it at $1899, I'd sell it like a shot

I wonder if Amazon's system registers the fact that they have sold four or five copies of the other book within a 24 hour period, when I bet they don't normally sell that many a month

I've got the Galen Gart book (not for sale though), so if you need specific information from it (e.g. w.r.t. the discography) I could scan some pages.

[Denbo]

I've got the Galen Gart book (not for sale though), so if you need specific information from it (e.g. w.r.t. the discography) I could scan some pages.

Wouldn't mind seeing a scan of the cover. Any chance?

[Tommy1]

What am I doing wrong, I only get this when trying to order from Amazon: We're sorry. This item can't be shipped to your selected destination. You may either change the shipping address or delete the item from your order by changing its quantity to 0

And yes, I have bought from them before...

[Denbo]

What am I doing wrong, I only get this when trying to order from Amazon: We're sorry. This item can't be shipped to your selected destination. You may either change the shipping address or delete the item from your order by changing its quantity to 0

And yes, I have bought from them before...

Tommy,

It looks like it's out of stock.

You could try buying a used one or a hardback copy instead?

Dennis.

[Tommy1]

Tommy,

It looks like it's out of stock.

You could try buying a used one or a hardback copy instead?

Dennis.

I did...

[Denbo]

I did...

And you still got the same message?

[mshoals]

Wouldn't mind seeing a scan of the cover. Any chance?

Here it is:

A fascinating book, with 200+ pages on the background of these great labels (including 90 pages discography) and 140 illustrations.

[Denbo]

Here it is:

A fascinating book, with 200+ pages on the background of these great labels (including 90 pages discography) and 140 illustrations.

Magic. Thanks.

[Guest posstot]

Magic. Thanks.

DAVE WIPE YOUR CHIN YOU SALIVATING

[Dave Rimmer]

DAVE WIPE YOUR CHIN YOU SALIVATING

No need mate. I sent the money off for a copy yesterday. Step forward and take a bow Selectasoul. who ended my twenty year quest to get a copy.

Talking of the book Mike mentioned 'The Early Years Of Rhythm & Blues', my copy arrived today, that's fast service for you the week before Christmas. And it looks really good as well, so I shall spend my evening reading it.

[Guest melandthensome]