Bethlehem Records
Bethlehem Records, founded 1953: jazz artists and albums on the label.
Artists on Bethlehem Records
Nina Simone
1933–2003 · American singer, songwriter and pianist and civil rights…
Julie London
1926–2000 · American actress and singer (1926-2000)
Mel Tormé
1925–1999 · American recording artist (1925–1999)
Charlie Mariano
1923–2009 · American jazz saxophonist (1923–2009)
Red Mitchell
1927–1992 · American jazz double-bassist, composer, lyricist, and poet…
Johnny Hartman
1923–1983 · American jazz singer (1923–1983)
Max Bennett
1928–2018 · American Jazz bassist (1928–2018)
Bob Dorough
1923–2018 · American pianist and singer (1923-2018)
Stan Levey
1926–2005 · American musician
Marilyn Moore
1931–1992 · American singer
Label profile
US label founded in the early 1950's by Swiss-born (also known as Gustav Wildi). Also appears as "Bethlehem" only.
Label Code: LC 0098 / LC 00098
After failing to make it in the pop market, under the influence of Creed Taylor (1954-56) Wildi changed the label's focus to jazz. Bethlehem distinguished itself as label by granting the artists creative control and being among the first to focus on album art, often designed by Burt Goldblatt. After making the label an important artistic nest for jazz artists like Nina Simone, Carmen McRae, Chris Connor and Mel Tormé, in 1958 Wilde gave the major label King Records (3) half ownership as payment for distribution and in 1962 Wildi sold King Records the second half of Bethlehem Records. Label art at a point had the same layout as King Records.
In 1976, purchased the Bethlehem Jazz label. In the January 22, 1977 issue of Billboard, in a 10th anniversary report on , the Caytronics parent company, the purchase was described "one of Caytronics' most ambitious projects of last year was the purchase of the pace -setting Bethlehem jazz label. It has achieved the re- establishing of this internationally famous jazz label to its former esteem and
Profile from Discogs (CC0)