In the spirit of rock n roll beginnings, KaraokeTraveler will feature a place on the Rock Hall of Fame’s Rock n’ Roll Landmark Series each week to bring to the fore those long forgotten places and people who made a fad into a way of life.

The King of "Race" Music

Posted April 9, 2009
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Right in its own backyard, the Hall of Fame sponsored and dedicated an historical marker for King Records, a label started in the early 40’s in Cincinnati by Syd Nathan. The label was a pioneer at mixing “hillbilly” music with “race” music; the former was the precursor to modern country music and enjoyed an almost exclusive white audience, the latter was the term for R&B, which at the time was consumed only by blacks.  Syd Nathan’s vision was quite pragmatic, he wanted the largest audience for his music and that meant having honky tonk acts record R&B tunes and visa versa. King Records is where “the Twist” was first recorded, and where the legendary James Brown first found a home, not to mention Nina Simone and Charlie Feathers.

But Nathan’s King Records’ biggest contribution to rock n roll was his business acumen. Nathan once claimed he had “shellac in his veins,” referring to the molded shellac that most records were made of back then.  King Records was more than a recording studio, Nathan had built a modest empire that did everything – pressing records, designing cover art, packaging, and shipping.  With complete control of his product, he was able to record a single and have it in a radio deejay’s hands the very same day. King records also stood out as an equal opportunity employer, unheard of in the day. Blacks not only worked in various positions at King but they also held management positions.

Bootsy’s Beginnings

Interest in this overlooked landmark in musical history was in part, stoked by one of Cincinnati’s proud sons and musical legend in his own right; Bootsy Collins. As a young teenager he remembered regularly peering the gate of the studio that stood on the corner of Montgomery and Brewster streets. Soon, he was a studio musician for King Records then as part of James Brown’s touring band, Collins made a name for himself in the industry but most know him has part of that iconic funk band of the 70’s Parliament-Funkadelic. Syd Nathan mentored Collins as a young man growing up in Cincinnati’s hip, young, band scene and was Collins’ inspiration to become a professional musician.

If you happen to be in downtown Cincinnati you can find a Bootsy’s own personal homage to King Records and rock n roll if travel down to 631 Walnut Street.  That’s where you will find “Bootsy’s Spanish Restaurant and Tapas Bar a funky, happening place opened by Collins in late 2008. And if you happen to be Evanston taking a stroll down Brewster, you will come across a dilapidated old warehouse in front of which a small stone marker reads:

King Records: The King of Them All.

From 1943-1971 King Records forever changed American music. Owner Syd Nathan gave the world Bluegrass, R&B, Rock & Roll, Doo Wop, Country, Soul and Funk. With stars from James Brown to the Stanley Brothers, and its innovative, integrated business model, Cincinnati’s King Records revolutionized the music industry.


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