Dee Gee Records
| Company type | Independent |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music industry |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Founder | Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Usher |
| Defunct | 1953 |
| Headquarters | Detroit , United States |
Key people | Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Usher |
| Products | Jazz records |
Dee Gee Records was an independent jazz label and recording company established in Detroit, Michigan, in 1951 by the legendary Dizzy Gillespie alongside Dave Usher.
History
The debut of Dee Gee Records was announced in Billboard on April 7, 1951. Gillespie founded the label to gain artistic control over his recordings. Dave Usher, a 21-year-old admirer and friend of Gillespie, co-founded and managed the Detroit-based operation, with recording sessions also held in New York City and Chicago. Following initial achievements, Dee Gee expanded its roster beyond Gillespie himself. Nevertheless, financial difficulties encountered under Usher’s leadership resulted in the label ceasing operations in 1953, prompting Gillespie to return to established record companies.
In 1956, the rights and catalog of Dee Gee were acquired by Savoy Records, which has retained ownership since. Despite the company’s short existence, Gillespie and Usher maintained a lifelong friendship. Usher subsequently worked as a producer at Argo Records before transitioning to head Marine Pollution Control, a firm specializing in industrial oil spill remediation.
Legacy
During his time at Dee Gee, Gillespie produced the first commercial recordings of compositions such as "Tin Tin Deo," "Birks' Works," and "The Champ." The label also featured significant artists including the Milt Jackson Quartet (which later evolved into the Modern Jazz Quartet), Jackie Wilson (then performing as "Sonny Wilson"), drummers Shelly Manne and Kenny Clarke, composer William Russo, vocalist Annie Ross, and the vocal ensemble The Tattletales with Jerri Adams. Notably, Gillespie’s sidemen included early recordings by John Coltrane and guitarist Kenny Burrell, whose debut solo appeared on "Birk's Works."
Savoy utilized Dee Gee’s catalog to preserve lasting Gillespie classics like The Champ and compilations such as Dee Gee Days: The Savoy Sessions. Gillespie valued the autonomy provided by operating his own label, which enabled him to fuse bebop with elements of comedy, calypso, R&B, and other genres; however, he later expressed regret over relinquishing control. Some bebop traditionalists accused him of compromising artistic integrity.
It is important to distinguish this Dee Gee Records from a similarly named 1960s Hollywood label founded by Doris Gilbert and from a 1980s label based in Wooster, Ohio.
External links
- Dee Gee Records Discography Both Sides Now Publications: Dee Gee Records Discography
- Dizzy Gillespie Discography JazzDisco.org Dizzy Gillespie Discography
- Savoy Records Discography Both Sides Now Publications: Savoy Records Discography
- Dee Gee Records on the Internet Archive's Great 78 Project