Founded 1952 | Ceased operations 1957 | |
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Founders Julius Jeramiah Bihari, Saul Bihari, Lester Louis Bihari, Joe Bihari | ||
Meteor Records was a record label started by the Bihari brothers, owners of Modern Records in Los Angeles, in 1952 in Memphis. The label, to be run by Lester Bihari, was a bold experiment to broaden the talent base by focusing on signing and recording Southern regional talent by having recording studios locally available. Elmore James recorded the first release, "I Believe"/"I Held My Baby Last Night". He was their biggest name also with Rufus Thomas, Junior Thompson and Charlie Feathers.
The label was not a success and by 1956 it was clear that the growing teenage rock 'n roll market was not buying Southern based blues. In 1957 Meteor Records issued its last recording and the Bihari brothers consolidated their labels in Los Angeles. The last issue by Meteor was in late 1957. Although the label did not succeed economically, it was an innovative effort on the part of the Bihari brothers to broaden the musical base.