Elektra

Elektra, founded 1950: jazz artists and albums on the label.

elektra.com ↗

Artists on Elektra

Etta James 1938–2012 · American singer (1938–2012) Natalie Cole 1950–2015 · American singer (1950–2015) Bobby McFerrin b. 1950 · American jazz vocalist and composer (born 1950) Sérgio Mendes 1941–2024 · Brazilian musician (1941–2024) John Zorn b. 1953 · American composer, saxophonist and bandleader Freddie Hubbard 1938–2008 · American jazz trumpeter (1938–2008) Donald Byrd 1932–2013 · American recording artist; jazz and rhythm & blues… Simply Red 1984– · British soul band McCoy Tyner 1938–2020 · American jazz pianist (1938–2020) Billy Cobham b. 1944 · Panamanian jazz drummer and composer (born 1944) Lee Ritenour b. 1952 · American male guitarist, musician, and composer George Duke 1946–2013 · American musician (1946–2013) Charles Lloyd b. 1938 · American jazz musician Grover Washington Jr. 1943–1999 · American jazz saxophonist (1943–1999) Woody Shaw 1944–1989 · American musician (1944-1989) Timothy Buckley 1947–1975 · American musician (1947–1975) Sadao Watanabe b. 1933 · Japanese jazz saxophonist, composer, bandmaster (1933-) David Grisman b. 1945 · American mandolinist, composer, and record label owner Michael Feinstein b. 1956 · American musician Chico Freeman b. 1949 · American saxophonist Naked City 1988– · American band Oregon 1970– · American jazz and world music group Lisa Fischer b. 1958 · American vocalist and songwriter (born 1958) Terry Callier 1945–2012 · American jazz, soul and folk guitarist and… Lenny White b. 1949 · American drummer Julius Hemphill 1938–1995 · American saxophonist (1938-1995) Wayne Horvitz b. 1955 · American musician Steps Ahead 1979– · American musical group; jazz fusion group Alejandra Ávalos b. 1965 · Mexican singer, musician and actress Joe Albany 1924–1988 · American pianist (1924–1988) Harvey Brooks b. 1944 · American bass guitarist Eric Weissberg 1939–2020 · American musician (1939–2020)

Label profile

American record label founded by Jac Holzman in December, 1950, in New York City. The original parent company for the label was the Elektra-Stratford Record Corp.. Elektra initially recorded folk music, ethnic music, jazz and gospel, although it later expanded into blues, pop, and rock music.

Label Code: LC 0192 / LC 00192

In 1964, Holzman started Nonesuch as a sub-label for inexpensive classical releases.
(Nonesuch is now an affiliated label of Warner Bros. Records under the Warner Music Group).

By the late 1960s, Elektra was having success with artists like The Doors, Judy Collins, Tim Buckley and Bread. But the record business was changing and Jac knew Elektra could not survive as a small independent label. Jac talked to Warner Bros. about combining the two companies and establishing a record distribution arm. He received 10 million dollars for Elektra and agreed to remain with the company for three years.

In 1974, Elektra was merged with Asylum Records. It was later merged with Atlantic and Lava to become The Atlantic Records Group, under the larger Warner Music Group.

US Labels:

1951 - 1956
"Scripted logo in green or brown print on a tan background"
eg Jim Fawcett – Fla

Profile from Discogs (CC0)