Apache Records was a small music recording label with a studio located in

Crestview, Florida Crestview is the largest city and county seat of Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. The population was 27,134 at the 2020 census, up from 20,978 at the 2010 census. With an elevation of above sea level, it is one of the highest points ...

, that released its first records in March 1960. The business was owned and operated by co-partners John Bowers and Brady Ward, with offices on Main Street in the central

Okaloosa County Okaloosa County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the Alabama state line. As of the 2020 census, the population was 211,668. Its county seat is Crestview. Okaloo ...

county seat of Crestview. The company featured local vocalists and groups, and utilized a pressing plant operated by

RCA Records RCA Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside Columbia Records (its former longtime rival), Arista Records and Epic R ...

Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...

, to produce its releases. The first two releases, which were distributed beginning on March 1, 1960, were 45 rpm singles, one being "Wiggle It Baby", backed with "Please Believe Me Darling", by local African-American Crestview artist Cook Jr., backed by

Mobile, Alabama Mobile ( , ) is a city and the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population was 187,041 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. After a successful vote to annex areas west of the city limits in July 2023, Mobil ...

combo the Rocking Aces. The other release was "The Chicken Shack Boogie", backed with "I Want To Jump With You Baby", by "Mobile Negro vocalist Clyde King", also backed by the Rocking Aces. "Bowers has just returned from a trip through Louisiana, Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama lining up wholesale sellers for the records and 500 records have been released to deejays throughout the country. These records are already in record shops in Crestview and surrounding areas. Other recordings are already in Indiana being pressed for release. Says co-owner Ward: 'We are willing to audition any local group who feel they have musical talent.'"Crestview, Florida, "Local Recording Company Issues First Discs Here", ''The Okaloosa News-Journal'', Thursday 3 March 1960, Volume 46, Number 9, page A-5.

References

{{Authority control 1960 establishments in the United States Companies based in Florida Okaloosa County, Florida Record labels established in 1960 Record labels based in Florida