Status Defunct Founder Leon René Defunct 1950 | Country of origin U.S. Date founded 1944 | |
Genre Jazz, blues, gospel, R&B | ||
Exclusive Records was a record label established by Leon René, which existed from 1944 to 1950.
Contents
History
Exclusive Records was established by Leon René in 1944 and ceased operations in January 1950. Artists on Exclusive Records included the Ceelle Burke Orchestra, Herb Jeffries, The Basin Street Boys, the Buddy Baker Sextet/Orchestra, Rickey Jordan, Jack McVea & His Orchestra, Mabel Scott, Edgar Hayes & His Stardusters, Frantic Fay Thomas, Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers, and Johnny Moore's Three Blazers with Charles Brown.
Leon René and his brother Otis René (who owned Excelsior 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.
In 1951, Leon René started up Class Records with his son, musician Googie René. They later formed Rendezvous Records with new partners in 1958.