Melotone Records was an American record label founded in 1930. Warner/Brunswick Records introduced the Melotone label in the U.S. and Canada as a budget subsidiary issuing 78 rpm disc records. It then became part of the

American Record Corporation American Record Corporation (ARC), also referred to as American Record Company, American Recording Corporation, or ARC Records, was an American record company in operation from 1929 to 1938, and again from 1978 to 1982. Overview ARC was crea ...

collection of labels in 1932. The original price was 50 cents, but was reduced to 35 cents or 3 for a $1.00 by 1932. The label was disestablished in 1938. In 2010, Melotone Records was refounded as a division of Melotone Music LLC. During the Depression, Melotone Records was a commonly found, popular label. Melotone issued popular dance tunes of the era; usually featuring a group of studio musicians issued under pseudonyms, such as Ralph Bennett and his Seven Aces (all eleven), Bob Causer and his Cornellians, Owen Fallon and his Orchestra, Sleepy Hall and his Collegians, Vic Irwin and his Orchestra, Chick Bullock and his Levee Loungers, Vincent Rose and his Orchestra, Paul Small and his Orchestra, et al. Most of the top notch New York area musicians recorded for the label, including The Dorsey Brothers, Bunny Berigan, Joe Venuti, Jack Teagarden, Benny Goodman and many others. Working orchestras such as Hal Kemp under the pseudonym Carolina Club Orchestra, as well as the bands under the direction of Will Osborne, Joe Haymes, Gene Kardos, Nye Mayhew, Nye Mayhew, Anthony Trini, Rudy Vallee, and dozens of others recorded for the label. The label also issued a variety of

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

and

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

recordings, including those by Lucille Bogan (as Bessie Jackson), Big Bill Broonzy, Josh White, and Buddy Moss; plus

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...

, Mexican, Cajun, and Hawaiian music. Artists on Melotone included

Eddie Cantor Eddie Cantor (born Isidore Itzkowitz; January 31, 1892 – October 10, 1964) was an American comedian, actor, dancer, singer, songwriter, film producer, screenwriter and author. Cantor was one of the prominent entertainers of his era. Some of h ...

, Annette Hanshaw,

Lead Belly Huddie William Ledbetter ( ; January 1888 or 1889 – December 6, 1949), better known by the stage name Lead Belly, was an American folk music, folk and blues singer notable for his strong vocals, virtuosity on the twelve-string guitar, and the ...

, Blind Boy Fuller,

Gene Autry Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), nicknamed the Singing Cowboy, was an American actor, musician, singer, composer, rodeo performer, and baseball team owner, who largely gained fame by singing in a Crooner ...

, and Tex Ritter.

References

External links

Melotone Records
on the Internet Archive'
Great 78 Project
{{Authority control Record labels established in 1930 Record labels disestablished in 1938 American jazz record labels American country music record labels Blues record labels

See also

References

External links