Melotone Records
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music recording |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Founder | Warner/Brunswick Records |
| Defunct | 1938 |
| Fate | Incorporated into American Record Corporation in 1932; ceased operations in 1938; relaunched in 2010 as a branch of Melotone Music LLC |
Area served | United States and Canada |
| Products | 78 rpm records (jazz, blues, country, Mexican, Cajun, Hawaiian music) |
Melotone Records was an American label established in 1930 by Warner/Brunswick Records as an affordable subsidiary producing 78 rpm discs distributed across the United States and Canada. In 1932, it became incorporated into the American Record Corporation's portfolio. Initially sold at 50 cents, Melotone lowered its price to 35 cents or offered three records for $1.00 by 1932. The label ceased operations in 1938. In 2010, Melotone Records was relaunched as a branch of Melotone Music LLC.
Throughout the Great Depression era, Melotone gained recognition for issuing dance music performed by studio ensembles under various fictitious names such as Ralph Bennett and his Seven Aces, Bob Causer and his Cornellians, and Chick Bullock and his Levee Loungers. Prominent New York musicians including The Dorsey Brothers, Bunny Berigan, Joe Venuti, Jack Teagarden, and Benny Goodman contributed recordings for Melotone. Established orchestras like Hal Kemp’s Carolina Club Orchestra (recording under an alias), Will Osborne, Joe Haymes, Gene Kardos, Nye Mayhew, Anthony Trini, and Rudy Vallee were also featured.
The label’s repertoire encompassed jazz and blues performers including Lucille Bogan (recording as Bessie Jackson), Big Bill Broonzy, Josh White, and Buddy Moss, in addition to genres such as country, Mexican, Cajun, and Hawaiian music.
Among the distinguished artists associated with Melotone were Eddie Cantor, Annette Hanshaw, Lead Belly, Blind Boy Fuller, Gene Autry, and Tex Ritter.
See also
- List of record labels
- Melotone Records (Australia)
External links
- Melotone Records at the Internet Archive's Great 78 Project