Keith Records
| Keith Records | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1961 |
| Founder | Eddie Singleton |
| Distributor | London Records |
| Genre | R&B, pop, soul music, northern soul |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | 1650 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. |
Keith Records was an American record label associated with rhythm and blues and soul music. artists regional and local to New York City and the northeastern United States. Eddie Singleton founded and named the label for his son in 1961. Operating out of the Brill Building in Manhattan, Keith was the first black-owned label to be distributed via London Records. The label's first single, was the A-side and B-side "Fire" and "Settle Down" by Dougie and The Dudes, released in August 1961. The single appeared in Cash Box magazine's "Looking Ahead" listings for five consecutive weeks beginning October 14, 1961.[1] [2][3][4][5]
In 1962 and 1963, The Matadors[6] and Oberia Martinez were gaining local and regional traction. Martinez's arrangement of One For My Baby[7][8] Raynoma was previously married to Berry Gordy, with whom she had founded Motown.[9] Operations wound down when Singleton was hired to co-manage Jobete Music, the New York publisher of Motown Records, alongside Raynoma Gordy. The following year, the two would leave Jobete andd establish Shrine Records in Washington, D.C.. They were married from 1966 to 1970.[7]
References
[edit source]- ↑ "Looking Ahead" (PDF). Cash Box. October 14, 1961. p. 32.
- ↑ "Looking Ahead" (PDF). Cash Box. October 21, 1961. p. 25.
- ↑ "Looking Ahead" (PDF). Cash Box. October 28, 1961. p. 34.
- ↑ "Looking Ahead" (PDF). Cash Box. November 4, 1961. p. 25.
- ↑ "Looking Ahead" (PDF). Cash Box. November 11, 1961. p. 24.
- ↑ "Keith Records Profile". Discogs. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
- 1 2 "Shrine -The full and first issue story by Andy Rix". Soul Source. 2001-02-22. Retrieved 2026-07-18.
- ↑ "Respect 2016". www.soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-07-18.
- ↑ "Berry Gordy, Singletons Cut Ties to Form New Music Organization" (PDF). The Cash Box. XXVI (13): 7. December 5, 1964.