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Modern Records

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Modern Records was an American record label formed in 1945 in Los Angeles by the Bihari brothers — Jules, Saul, Lester and Joe Bihari.

In the early 1950s, it launched several subsidiaries — RPM Records, Flair Records and Meteor Records. It launched more subsidiaries — Crown Records and United/Superior Records. In the 1960s, it launched a subsidiary Yuletide Records, specialised in Christmas records. In the 1960s, Modern Records went bankrupt and ceased operations, but the catalogue went with the management into what became Kent Records. This back catalogue was eventually licensed to the UK label Ace Records in the 1980s and later sold outright during the 1990s.

The label's success

Modern was one of the big R&B labels with artists including Etta James, Joe Houston, John Lee Hooker, Floyd Dixon, Roy Hawkins, Jimmy McCracklin, Jimmy Witherspoon, Pee Wee Crayton, Smokey Hogg, Lightnin' Hopkins and Driftin' Slim. Groups signed to the label included The Cadets and Marvin and Johnny.

Having started as an R&B label, Modern was later one of the few R&B labels to routinely cover rhythm and blues hits on other labels, apparently in an attempt to broaden their appeal and reach the popular market. Here, they had less success and the company eventually went bankrupt, although the catalogue was maintained under similar management at Kent Records.

Unrelated labels

There have been other, unrelated, companies using the “Modern” name in later times. One of these labels was formed by Fleetwood Mac member Stevie Nicks, Paul Fishkin and Danny Goldberg for the release of Nicks’ solo material. The label was picked up by Atlantic Records. This label is also now defunct, and Nicks’ solo material is now released through Reprise Records.

See also

Notes

External links

  • http://www.geocities.com/shakin_stacks/julesbihari.txt
  • http://www.bsnpubs.com/modern/modernstory.html



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