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Excelsior Records

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Excelsior Records was an American record label established by Otis René, which existed from 1944 to 1971. It is particularly notable as having released some of the earliest recordings of Nat King Cole. It is not to be confused with former MCA and current independent record label Excelsior Recordings of The Netherlands.

Contents

History

The Excelsior record label was established by Otis René in 1944, and ceased operations in original form in 1951, only to live on in a second incarnation until 1971. It is particularly notable for having released some of the first recordings by Nat King Cole. Otis René was noted to have earned $25,000 on one song in 1945, "I'm Lost", recorded by the King Cole Trio. René had written and produced the song, as well as distributed the record. Other artists on Excelsior Records included Herb Jeffries, the King Perry Orchestra, Timmie Rogers, the Flennoy Trio, Gerald Wilson & His Orchestra, the Charles Mingus Sextet, Johnny Otis & His Orchestra, the Gladys Bentley Quintet, and the Al Stomp Russell Trio.

Otis René and his brother Leon René (who owned Exclusive Records) had purchased their own shellac record pressing plant, but when the format changed from 78 rpm to 45 rpm, their old equipment could not press the new smaller vinyl discs, and both labels went out of business, only to be purchased out of bankruptcy in name only, and the label existed another 20 years by selling second and third-run pressings of recordings. In 1952, Otis started up the short-lived Spin Records with musician Preston Love.

List of artists on Excelsior

  • HERB JEFFRIES
  • EDDIE BEAL TRIO
  • KING COLE TRIO
  • KING PERRY ORCHESTRA
  • TIMMIE ROGERS
  • HOLLYWOOD'S FOUR BLAZES
  • BOB MOSLEY & HIS ALL STARS
  • FLENNOY TRIO
  • GERALD WILSON & HIS ORCHESTRA
  • CHARLES MINGUS SEXTETTE
  • JOHNNY OTIS & HIS ORCHESTRA
  • LUCKY THOMPSON ALL STARS
  • The LUVENIA NASH SINGERS
  • GLADYS BENTLEY QUINTETTE
  • WES PRINCE & HIS RHYTHM PRINCES
  • JOE ALEXANDER
  • AL STOMP RUSSELL TRIO
  • JOHNNIE CREACH'S MAJORS AND MINORS
  • MEMPHIS JIMMY McCRACKLIN
  • The JACKSON HARMONEERS
  • Buddy Banks Orchestra
  • Jimmy Rushing
  • Flora Washington
  • The Red Flames
  • Sherman Williams & His Shuffle Rhythm
  • Big Joe Turner
  • The Great New Hope Gospel Singers
  • The Mello Larks
  • Royal Hawaiian Serenaders
  • Smiley Burnette & His Rancheros
  • Spence Bare & His Western Swing Band
  • The Esquire Trio
  • Martha Davis & Her Torrid Trio
  • The Drifters
  • CD compilations

  • The Otis René Story (1942-1952) V.S.O.P. Records #121 [UPC: 722937212126] 2CD set - note: features 44 songs from the vaults of Excelsior Records, including 9 previously unreleased tracks and demos; also includes 5 of the 6 tracks released by his short-lived Spin Records label.
  • References

    Excelsior Records Wikipedia