Modern Records
Modern Records was an American record company and label formed in 1945 in Los Angeles by the Bihari brothers. Modern's artists included Hadda Brooks, Etta James, Joe Houston, Little Richard, Ike & Tina Turner and John Lee Hooker. The label released some of the most influential blues and R&B records of the 1940s and 1950s.
History
In the beginning, Modern bought master recordings from other small labels, as with the purchase of 32 unreleased Gold Star Records master recordings by Lightnin' Hopkins and Lil' Son Jackson for $2,500 from Bill Quinn in 1951. The Biharis also often used pseudonyms to give themselves writing credit on songs. Saul Bihari, for example, used the name Sam Ling as a songwriting pseudonym. Having started as an R&B label, Modern was later one of the few R&B labels to routinely cover rhythm and blues hits on other labels, apparently in an attempt to broaden their appeal and reach the popular market.In 1958, the Bihari brothers formed Kent Records and stopped issuing records on Modern. In 1964, the Modern imprint was revived and the Ikettes released a few successful singles in 1965, but the company went bankrupt a few years later and ceased operations. The catalog went with the management into Kent Records. This back catalog was eventually licensed to the UK label Ace Records in the 1980s and later sold outright during the 1990s. Ace Records of the U.K. now owns the master tapes.
Yuletide Records was a daughter record label of Modern, specialized only in Christmas music.
Management and staff
- Saul, Jules and Joe Bihari were the main people who ran the label. Their older brother Lester was only there sporadically.
- Ike Turner was a talent scout and session musician for Modern Records in the 1950s. Artists Turner discovered for Modern include Bobby "Blue" Bland, Howlin' Wolf, and Rosco Gordon. According to B.B. King and Joe Bihari, Turner introduced King to the Bihari brothers which led to his RPM releases.
- Tony Hilder was an A&R man for Modern Records in the late 1950s. Later he went on to form his own labels, first CT Records and later owner and president of Impact Records.
- Austin McCoy was an artist, session musician and recording session director with Modern Records. He left Modern in late 1950 to take up an A&R post with Mercury Records at their Beverly Hills office.
Albums
- Modern Music: The First Year – 1945
- –00 Era of Tommy Dorsey
- –01 Era of Benny Goodman
- –02 Era of Charlie Barnet
- –03 Era of Glenn Miller
- –04 Era of Woody Herman
- –05 Era of the Big Bands
- –06 Dixieland
- –07 Polka Party Time
- –08 Honky Tonk Piano
- –09 The Strauss Waltzes
- –10 Day Dreams
- –11 Organ Gems
- –12 Cha Cha Cha
- –13 Sing-A-Long
- –14 Rock and Roll Party
- –15 The Heart of Spain
- –16 Oldies and Goodies
- –17 Progressive Percussion
- –18 Hawaiian Holiday
- –19 Era of Hank Williams
- –20 Tradewinds to Hawaii
- –21 Dynamic Percussion
- –22 Mambo Cha Cha Cha
- –23 The Fabulous Ink Spots
Selected singles