Emerson Records
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music recording and production |
| Founded | 1915 |
| Founder | Victor Emerson |
| Defunct | 1928 |
| Fate | Ceased record manufacturing; brand continued in radio products |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Records (5-inch, 7-inch, 9-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch discs), race records, radio products |
Emerson Records was a U.S.-based record label and company established by Victor Emerson in 1915.
Victor Hugo Emerson, who had served as the lead recording engineer at Columbia Records, departed in 1914 to found the Emerson Phonograph Company, followed by Emerson Records in 1915. The company initially produced small discs measuring 5 inches, priced at 10 cents, and 7-inch discs costing 25 cents.
The label's early catalog included popular songs, dance tunes, and patriotic marches performed by New York musicians credited under names like the "Emerson Orchestra" or "The Emerson Symphony Orchestra." Its classical selections featured artists such as violinist David Hochstein, pianist Arthur Friedheim, and the Rialto Theatre orchestra conducted by Hugo Riesenfeld.
In 1918, Emerson launched 9-inch records retailing at 75 cents. After World War I, the firm expanded its offerings to include standard 10-inch discs priced between 85 cents and one dollar by 1920, as well as 12-inch classical discs available for $1.25 starting in 1919.
The roster of performers on Emerson's releases encompassed Wilbur Sweatman, Eddie Cantor, the Six Brown Brothers, the Louisiana Five, Lizzie Miles, Eubie Blake, Fletcher Henderson, the Original Memphis Five, Henry Burr with the Peerless Quartet, Vernon Dalhart, Ada Jones, and Homer Rodeheaver.
In May 1920, Emerson inaugurated a second recording studio located in Los Angeles. Nevertheless, rapid growth placed financial pressure on the company, resulting in receivership by 1921. Subsequently, investors Benjamin Abrams and Rudolph Kararek purchased Emerson in 1922 for $50,000 and injected an additional $200,000 in capital. Following this acquisition, records were marketed at a price of 50 cents each.
The company was sold again in 1924 to Pennsylvania's Scranton Button Company. By 1926, Emerson incorporated electric microphone recording techniques into their production process. Although Scranton Button ceased record manufacturing by 1928, the Emerson brand persisted in radio products. After the mid-1920s, Emerson's prominence as a record label diminished significantly, primarily releasing material from routine performers with few distinguished artists.
Emerson also produced race records targeting African American audiences; among these was Ethel Finnie's 1924 issue featuring "He Wasn't Born in Araby, But He's a Sheikin' Fool" backed with "Heart Breakin' Joe."
See also
External links
- Emerson Records history up to 1920
- Emerson Records on the Internet Archive's Great 78 Project