Modern Records

For all unofficial / bootleg release of this label please use instead. "Hollywood" sometimes added to the label artwork.
This label was formed in the spring of 1945 (as ) in Los Angeles, California, by the brothers Joe Bihari, Saul Bihari, and Jules Bihari. joined his brothers after the Second World War. The label name changed to Modern Records in 1948. The Bihari Brothers recorded country & western, jazz, popular, blues, and gospel, but the main focus was rhythm & blues.
The brothers built Modern into a major blues and R&B label. Their first success was "Swingin' the Boogie" by Hadda Brooks. They bought a pressing plant, and divided tasks among them equally, with Jules responsible for talent spotting and recording, Saul for manufacturing, and Lester for distribution. Joe worked with Ike Turner as a talent scout in the Memphis area, discovering Johnny "Guitar" Watson among others.

This iteration of Modern issued its first LP's in April 1956 with four albums by Red Callender, Kay Starr/Erroll Garner, Joe Houston & Don, Dick n' Jimmy.
In the early 1950s the Biharis launched several subsidiaries: , and , which was set up in Memphis in 1952 and was headed by Lester Bihari. Success