Southland Records

Southland Records is a record label in New Orleans, Louisiana known for its 1950's recordings of Dixieland jazz.

Southland Records was founded in 1953 by Joe Mares, a clarinetist and younger brother of trumpeter Paul Mares. He created the label after noticing the number of unsigned musicians in New Orleans. Mares recorded George Lewis, Papa Celestin, Sharkey Bonano, Nick LaRocca, and Raymond Burke.

Bands practiced at the label's studio behind Mares Brothers Furs, a company begun by his father, uncle, and grandfather. Sessions were recorded at concert halls and at TV and radio stations. In the 1960s Mares sold the label to George Buck and it became part of the Jazzology Records group under the control of the George H. Buck Jr. Jazz Foundation.

Southland Recording Artists

Famous jazz artists featured on Southland Records include:

· Jimmy Ballero

· Bill Broonzy

· Wendell Brunious

· Dan Burley

· Red Callender

· Erving Charles

· Pops Foster

· Ernie Freeman

· Hezekiah & The Houserockers

· John Jackson

· Homesick James

· Larry Johnson

· Robert Junior Lockwood

· Eddie Kirkland

· Joe Lastie

· Booker T. Laury

· Albert Macon

· Ray Martinez

· Brownie & Sticks McGee

· Chuck Norris

· Piano Red

· Snooky Prior

· Doctor Ross

· The Soul Blues Boys

· Robert Thomas

· Son Thomas

· Henry & Vernell Townsend

· Eric Traub

· Floyd Turnham

· George Washington

· Robert Pete Williams

· Teddy Woods