Parrot Records was an American

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

-based

record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the prod ...

, founded in 1952 by the

disc jockey A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include Radio personality, radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music f ...

Al Benson Arthur Bernard Leaner (June 30, 1908 – September 6, 1978), who was known professionally as Al Benson, was an American radio DJ, music promoter and record label owner in Chicago between the 1940s and 1960s. He was particularly significan ...

. It specialized in blues,

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, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a majo ...

doo-wop Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a genre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chica ...

, and

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message (" the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words a ...

. The company began operating in mid-1953, and lasted until mid-1956. Several Parrot recordings were later released by

Chess Records Chess Records was an American record company established in 1950 in Chicago, specializing in blues and rhythm and blues. It was the successor to Aristocrat Records, founded in 1947. It expanded into soul music, gospel music, early rock and r ...

. Parrot's sister label

Blue Lake Blue Lake may refer to: Places ;Antarctica * Blue Lake (Ross Island) ;Australia * Blue Lake (New South Wales) * Blue Lake (Queensland) ** Blue Lake National Park, a former protected area in Queensland * Blue Lake / Warwar, South Australia ;Cro ...

operated from 1954 to 1956. There were plans for another subsidiary, to be called Eagle, but these were scrapped.

Releases on 78 and 45 rpm singles

*Parrot 1050 Willie Mabon and his Combo - "I Don't Know" b/w "Worry Blues" *Parrot 772 The Parrots - "Weep, Weep, Weep" b/w "Please Don't Leave Me" *Parrot 775 Herbie Fields and Orchestra - " Harlem Nocturne" b/w " Things Ain't What They Used to Be" *Parrot 780 Mable (sic) Scott - "Mr. Fine" b/w "Mable Blues" *Parrot 781 Chocolateers - "Peckin'" b/w "Bartender Blues" *Parrot 782

Curtis Jones Curtis Jones may refer to: * Curtis Jones (pianist) (1906–1971), American blues pianist * Curtis Jones (singer) or Green Velvet (born 1968), American singer, record producer, and DJ * Curtis Jones (minister) (born 1986), American minister conv ...

- "Wrong Blues" b/w "Cool Playing Blues" *Parrot 783

Coleman Hawkins Coleman Randolph Hawkins (November 21, 1904 – May 19, 1969), nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes "Bean", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.Yanow, Scot"Coleman Hawkins: Artist Biography" AllMusic. Retrieved December 27, 2013. One of the first p ...

and Orchestra - "I'll See You Later" b/w " What a Difference a Day Made" *Parrot 784 Coleman Hawkins and Orchestra - "I'll Follow My Secret Heart" b/w "Blue Blue Days" *Parrot 785

Playboy Thomas ''Playboy'' is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. K ...

- "Too Much Pride" b/w "No Doubt about It" *Parrot 786

Marvin Phillips Marvin Phillips (born December 28, 1983) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the KW Titans of the National Basketball League of Canada. He most notably won the NBL Canada Finals Most Valuable Player Award in ...

- "Salty Dog" b/w "Sweetheart, Darling" *Parrot 787

Lowell Fulson Lowell Fulson (March 31, 1921March 7, 1999) was an American blues guitarist and songwriter, in the West Coast blues tradition. He also recorded for contractual reasons as Lowell Fullsom and Lowell Fulsom. After T-Bone Walker, he was the most ...

and Orchestra - "I've Been Mistreated" b/w "Juke Box Shuffle" *Parrot 788

Jo Jo Adams Joel Adams (c. 1918 – February 27, 1988), sometimes credited as Doctor Jo Jo Adams, was an American jump blues singer, comedian, dancer, and MC, who recorded in the 1940s and 1950s. Career He was born in a rural area of Alabama, and ...

- "Call My Baby" b/w "Rebecca" *Parrot 789

The Rockettes The Rockettes are an American precision dance company. Founded 1925 in St. Louis, they have, since , performed at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Until 2015, they also had a touring company. They are best known for starring in the R ...

- "Love Nobody" b/w "I Can't Forget" *Parrot 790

Lonnie Simmons Lonnie Simmons (December 12, 1944 - February 6, 2019) was an American record producer from Los Angeles, California. He was founder and president of the now-defunct Total Experience Records. As a composer, he co-wrote several #1 R&B songs for his ...

Quartet - "Black Orchid" b/w " I Can't Get Started" *Parrot 791 Ernest Lewis - "No More Lovin'" b/w "West Coast Blues" *Parrot 792 Paul Bascomb and his Orchestra - "Jan (Part I)" b/w "Jan (Part II)" *Parrot 793

The Pelicans Arthur Bernard Leaner (June 30, 1908 – September 6, 1978), who was known professionally as Al Benson, was an American radio DJ, music promoter and record label owner in Chicago between the 1940s and 1960s. He was particularly significan ...

- "Aurelia" b/w "

White Cliffs of Dover The White Cliffs of Dover is the region of English coastline facing the Strait of Dover and France. The cliff face, which reaches a height of , owes its striking appearance to its composition of chalk accented by streaks of black flint, deposi ...

" *Parrot 794 Mable (sic) Scott - "Do the Thing" b/w "Fool Burro" *Parrot 795 Marvin Phillips - "Ann Marie" b/w "Honey Baby" *Parrot 796

Five Thrills 5 is a number, numeral, and glyph. 5, five or number 5 may also refer to: * AD 5, the fifth year of the AD era * 5 BC, the fifth year before the AD era Literature * ''5'' (visual novel), a 2008 visual novel by Ram * ''5'' (comics), an awa ...

- "Feel So Good" b/w "My Baby's Gone" *Parrot 797

Jimmy Rushing James Andrew Rushing (August 26, 1901 – June 8, 1972) was an American singer and pianist from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S., best known as the featured vocalist of Count Basie's Orchestra from 1935 to 1948. Rushing was known as "Mr. Five by ...

with

Frank Culley Frank Windsol Culley (August 17, 1917 – April 15, 1991), sometimes credited as Frank "Floorshow" Culley, was an American R&B saxophonist and bandleader who recorded successfully from the 1940s and was the first leader of the Atlantic Reco ...

Combo - "Mr. 5 x 5" b/w "Clothes Pin Blues" *Parrot 798

Albert King Albert Nelson (April 25, 1923 – December 21, 1992), known by his stage name Albert King, was an American guitarist and singer who is often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential blues guitarists of all time. He is perhaps ...

- "Be on Your Merry Way" b/w "Bad Luck Blues" *Parrot 799

John Brim John Charles Brim (April 10, 1922 – October 1, 2003) was an American Chicago blues guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He wrote and recorded the song "Ice Cream Man" which was later covered by the rock band Van Halen for their first album, and ...

and his Stompers - "Tough Times" b/w "Gary Stomp" *Parrot 800 Five Thrills - "Gloria" b/w "Wee Wee Baby" *Parrot 802

J. B. Lenoir J. B. Lenoir ( '; March 5, 1929 – April 29, 1967) was an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter, active in the Chicago blues scene in the 1950s and 1960s. Life and career Lenoir was born in Monticello, Mississippi. His full given n ...

- "Eisenhower Blues" b/w "I'm in Korea" *Parrot 802 J. B. Lenoir - "Tax Paying Blues" b/w "I'm in Korea" *Parrot 806 Herbie Fields and Orchestra - "I Love You" b/w "Mr. Jump" *Parrot 807

Snooky Pryor James Edward "Snooky" Pryor (September 15, 1919 or 1921 – October 18, 2006) was an American Chicago blues harmonica player. He claimed to have pioneered the now-common method of playing amplified harmonica by cupping a small microphone in his ...

- "Crosstown Blues" b/w "I Want You for Myself" *Parrot 808

The Flamingos The Flamingos are an American doo-wop group formed in Chicago in 1953. The band became popular in mid-to-late 1950s and are known for their 1959 cover version of "I Only Have Eyes for You". They have since been hailed as one of the finest and m ...

- "On My Merry Way" b/w "Dream of a Lifetime" *Parrot 809 J. B. Lenore (sic) - "Mamma Talk to Your Daughter" b/w "Man Watch Your Woman" *Parrot 810

Ahmad Jamal Ahmad Jamal (born Frederick Russell Jones, July 2, 1930) is an American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader and educator. For six decades, he has been one of the most successful small-group leaders in jazz. Biography Early life Jamal was born Fr ...

- " But Not for Me" b/w "Seleritus" *Parrot 811

- "Get with It" b/w "I Really Don't Want to Know" *Parrot 812

- " Ko-Ko-Mo" b/w "I'm Yours" *Parrot 813 Little Willy Foster - "Falling Rain Blues" b/w "Four Day Jump" (also released as

113) *Parrot 814 J. B. Lenore - "Mama Your Daughter Is Going to Miss Me" b/w "What Have I Done" *Parrot 815

The Orchids The Orchids are a Scottish band that achieved success with Sarah Records. Formed in Penilee in Glasgow in 1985, the Orchids released a series of underground singles on Sarah Records. The group's line-up comprised James Hackett (vocals), Paulin ...

- "Newly Wed" b/w "You're Everything to Me" *Parrot 816 Paul Bascomb and his Orchestra /

The Five Arrows ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in ...

- "You've Got Me Losing My Mind" b/w "Pretty Little Thing" *Parrot 817 Paul Bascomb and his Orchestra - "Alley B on Fifth Avenue" b/w "Jumping at the El Cino" *Parrot 818

- " It Could Happen to You" b/w "Excerpts from the Blues" *Parrot 819 The Orchids - "You Said You Loved Me" b/w "I Can't Refuse" *Parrot 820

Dusty Brown Dustin William "Dusty" Brown (born June 19, 1982) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates. Professional career Boston Red Sox Brown was draft ...

- "Yes She's Gone" b/w "He Don't Love You" *Parrot 821 J. B. Lenore - "Fine Girls" b/w "I Lost My Baby' *Parrot 822 Benson-Ogletree - "Tell It like It Is" b/w "Uptown Stomp" *Parrot 823

St. Louis Jimmy ST, St, or St. may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Stanza, in poetry * Suicidal Tendencies, an American heavy metal/hardcore punk band * Star Trek, a science-fiction media franchise * Summa Theologica, a compendium of Catholic philosophy ...

- " Going Down Slow" b/w "Murder in the First Degree" *Parrot 105 The

Willie Webb Willy or Willie is a masculine, male given name, often a diminutive form of William or Wilhelm, and occasionally a nickname. It may refer to: People Given name or nickname * Willie Aames (born 1960), American actor, television director, and sc ...

Singers - "Climbing High Mountains" b/w "God Is Good to Me" *Parrot 106 The Willie Webb Singers - "He Will Be There" b/w "He's a Wonder" *Parrot 107

The Victorettes ''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speak ...

- "Jesus Has Promised" b/w "When Night Comes" *Parrot 109

The Peace Makers ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...

- "When I Go" b/w "I Know What I Believe' *Parrot 1000 Bessie Griffen (sic) - "Story of Job" b/w "What Jesus Means to Me" *Parrot 1001

Veteran Singers A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in a military. A military veteran that h ...

- "Give It Up" b/w "The Old Account Was Settled" (also released on

1001) *Parrot 6000 The

Leon Abbey Leon Alexander Anthony Abbey (May 7, 1900 – September 1975) was an American jazz violinist and bandleader. Biography He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 7, 1900, to Luther James Robert Abbey and Eva Lee Alexander. He started his care ...

Trio,

- " If You Were the Only Girl" b/w "Abbey's Boogie"

Releases on 12-inch album

: '' Ahmad Jamal Plays'' *

Johnny Griffin John Arnold Griffin III (April 24, 1928 – July 25, 2008) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Nicknamed "the Little Giant" for his short stature and forceful playing, Griffin's career began in the mid-1940s and continued until the month of ...

: Unissued * Paul Bascomb: Unissued

References

External links

The Parrot and Blue Lake labels
{{Authority control Defunct record labels of the United States Record labels established in 1952 Record labels disestablished in 1956

Releases on 78 and 45 rpm singles

Releases on 12-inch album

See also

References

External links