Concord Music Group has acquired the catalog of renowned American R&B and soul label Vee-Jay Records.
The label vaults feature more than 5,000 master recordings from renowned artists such as Little Richard, John Lee Hooker, Betty Everett, Jimmy Reed, Jerry Butler, The Staple Singers, Gene Chandler and The Dells, among many others.
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Classic Vee-Jay tracks include Chandler’s early ’60s No. 1 hit “Duke of Earl,” John Lee Hooker’s iconic “Boom Boom,” The Staple Singers’ “Uncloudy Day,” (with a 12-year old Mavis on lead vocals), Jimmy Reed’s inimitable “High and Lonesome” and Betty Everett’s “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss),” among many others.
Founded in Gary, Indiana in 1953 by husband-and-wife team Vivian Carter and James C. Bracket (“V” and “J”), Vee-Jay quickly became a top indie label that regularly turned out superb R&B, urban blues, and later on, jazz, folk and gospel recordings. Vee-Jay was one of the first black-owned and female-owned labels in America and also the first U.S. record company to release any recordings by The Beatles.
Concord Music Group president and CEO Glen Barros stated: “The range and richness of Vee-Jay’s catalog is truly remarkable. We’re grateful to be its guardians and look forward to broadening this unique musical legacy.”
The transaction between Concord Music Group and Vee-Jay Ltd. Partnership was facilitated by Scott McLain.
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The company’s notable family of labels includes Concord Records, Concord Jazz, Hear Music, Fantasy, Stax, Milestone, Riverside, Specialty, Telarc, Prestige and Rounder Records. Additionally, Concord has recently partnered with Tom Whalley‘s independent label Loma Vista Recordings, whose illustrious artist roster includes Spoon, St. Vincent, Little Dragon, Birds of Tokyo, Ghost BC, Manchester Orchestra and Papa.
