Groove Merchant was an American jazz and R&B record label during the 1970s. It was run by producer
Sonny Lester
Sumner Lester (November 15, 1924 – April 28, 2018), better known as Sonny Lester, was an American Grammy-award-winning music producer from New York City. He started his career as a musician in a big band jazz ensemble before being drafted into ...
O'Donel Levy
O'Donel "Butch" Levy (September 20, 1945 – March 14, 2016) was a rhythm & blues, funk and jazz guitarist from Baltimore, Maryland. He was brother of session drummer Stafford Levy.
Levy studied music at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins ...
Lonnie Smith Lonnie Smith may refer to:
* Lonnie Smith (baseball) (born 1955), American baseball player
* Lonnie Smith (boxer) (born 1962), American boxer
* Lonnie Smith (organist) (1942–2021), American organist
* Lonnie Liston Smith
Lonnie Liston Smi ...
and Lionel Hampton. Lester would later close Groove Merchant and restructure it as Lester Radio Corporation, or LRC; TK Records were distributors for a period. Lester still retains the rights to the Groove Merchant/LRC back catalog and independently distributes them on compact disc.
Discography
500 Series
The Groove Merchant 500 Series consisted of 34 albums released between 1971 and 1974.Jazzlists: Groove Merchant Records 500 Series accessed March 26, 2018
2200 Series
The 2200 Series, released in 1972, consisted of five albums which feature previously released and/or unissued material produced by Sonny Lester for various other labels.
3300 Series
The 3300 Series consisted of sixteen albums released between 1973 and 1976.
4000 Series
The 4000 Series, released in 1974–1975, consisted of twelve double LP compilations of previously issued material. accessed March 26, 2018
* GM 4400 Lionel Hampton: ''The Works!'' (material later released as the single LPs: ''Hamp's Big Band Live!'' on Glad-Hamp, and ''Good Vibes'' on 51 West/CBS)
* GM 4401 Carmen McRae: ''Velvet Soul'' (compiles ''
It Takes a Whole Lot of Human Feeling
''It Takes a Whole Lot of Human Feeling'' is an album by American jazz vocalist Carmen McRae recorded in 1973 and released on the Groove Merchant label.Ms. Jazz'')
* GM 4402 Groove Holmes: ''Hunk–a–Funk'' (compiles ''
Night Glider
''Night Glider'' is an album by the American jazz organist Groove Holmes recorded at New York City's Bell Sound Studios in 1973 and released on the Groove Merchant label.
Sundance
A Sun Dance is a Native American ceremony.
Sun dance or Sundance may also refer to:
Places
;Canada
* Sundance, Calgary, Alberta, a neighbourhood
* Sundance, Manitoba, a ghost town
;United States
* Sundance, New Mexico, a census-designated pla ...
The Roar of '74
''The Roar of '74'' is a 1973 studio album by Buddy Rich, with his big band, released on the Groove Merchant Records label in the United States. The album was released in the UK in 1974 on the Mooncrest Records, Mooncrest label by B & C Records. ...
'' and '' Very Live at Buddy's Place'')
* GM 4408 O'Donel Levy: ''Hands of Fire'' (compiles '' Black Velvet'' and '' Simba'')
* GM 4409 Jimmy McGriff and Groove Holmes: ''Supa Cookin' '' (compiles ''
Giants of the Organ Come Together
''Giants of the Organ Come Together'' is an album by American jazz organists Jimmy McGriff and Groove Holmes recorded in 1973 and released on the Groove Merchant label.
'' and the first LP from the '' Giants of the Organ in Concert'' 2LP set)
* GM 4410 Dakota Staton: ''Confessin' '' (compiles ''
Madame Foo-Foo
''Madame Foo-Foo'' is an album by American jazz vocalist Dakota Staton recorded in 1972 and released on the Groove Merchant label.I Want a Country Man
''I Want a Country Man'' is an album by American jazz vocalist Dakota Staton recorded in 1973 and released on the Groove Merchant label.Goodbye Yesterday'' and ''
I Offer You
''I Offer You'' is an album featuring performances by jazz saxophonist Lucky Thompson which was released on the Groove Merchant label.