Dial Records (1964)
Encyclopedia
A second Dial Records label was a New Orleans soul label formed by Nashville
-based song publisher/plugger/producer Buddy Killen
in 1964
.
This label was formed specifically so Killen could record perhaps his best-known discovery, soul
singer Joe Tex
. After a few tries and misses, Tex came up with a song called "Hold What You've Got," a ballad that bridged traditional rhythm and blues
with the emerging Southern soul style and also pointed toward a future of rap
thanks to Tex's spoken, almost testifying homily midway through the song. (Tex, in fact, was actually nicknamed "The Rapper" in these years.") "Hold What You've Got" got Killen's Dial label a distribution deal with Atlantic Records
. Joe Tex was the anchor star of this Dial label (he rolled up almost thirty soul hits, some of which hit the pop charts, especially "Skinny Legs and All" and "I Gotcha") until he all but retired from music in the 1970s and died of a heart attack at age 49.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
owns the Dial Records catalogue today.
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
-based song publisher/plugger/producer Buddy Killen
Buddy Killen
William Doyce “Buddy” Killen was a record producer and music publisher, and a former owner of Trinity Broadcasting Network, and the largest country music publishing business, before he sold it in 1989...
in 1964
1964 in music
-Events:*January 1 – Top of the Pops is broadcast for the first time, on BBC television.*January 3 – Footage of the Beatles performing a concert in Bournemouth, England is shown on The Jack Paar Show....
.
This label was formed specifically so Killen could record perhaps his best-known discovery, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer Joe Tex
Joe Tex
Joseph Arrington, Jr. , better known as "Joe Tex", was an American Southern soul singer-songwriter, most popular during the 1960s and 1970s...
. After a few tries and misses, Tex came up with a song called "Hold What You've Got," a ballad that bridged traditional rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
with the emerging Southern soul style and also pointed toward a future of rap
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
thanks to Tex's spoken, almost testifying homily midway through the song. (Tex, in fact, was actually nicknamed "The Rapper" in these years.") "Hold What You've Got" got Killen's Dial label a distribution deal with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. Joe Tex was the anchor star of this Dial label (he rolled up almost thirty soul hits, some of which hit the pop charts, especially "Skinny Legs and All" and "I Gotcha") until he all but retired from music in the 1970s and died of a heart attack at age 49.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing is a music publishing company co-owned by The Michael Jackson Family Trust and Sony. The organisation was originally founded as Associated TeleVision in 1955 by Lew Grade. In 1957, ATV acquired Pye Records as a wholly owned subsidiary...
owns the Dial Records catalogue today.
Artists Recording for Dial Records
- Joe TexJoe TexJoseph Arrington, Jr. , better known as "Joe Tex", was an American Southern soul singer-songwriter, most popular during the 1960s and 1970s...
- Bobby MarchanBobby MarchanBobby Marchan was a well-respected American rhythm and blues bandleader, MC, singer-performer, recording artist, and female impersonator, who initially began performing in New Orleans nightclubs, specifically the Dew Drop Inn and the Club Tijuana in the mid 1950s.Marchan also toured with the band of...
- Clarence Reid
- Paul KellyPaul Kelly (U.S. musician)Paul Kelly, born June 19, 1940, is a United States singer-songwriter. He is best known for the soul songs "Stealing in the Name of the Lord", which was a major hit in 1970, and "Hooked, Hogtied & Collared". He also wrote "Personally", which has been widely-covered, and was a hit for soul singer...
- Chris HarrisChris HarrisChris Harris may refer to:* Chris Harris , English business author* Chris Harris , American football player* Chris Harris , Texas State Representative and State Senator...
& The Soul Agents - Clarence "Frogman" Henry
- Gunilla HuttonGunilla HuttonGunilla Hutton is a Swedish-born American actress and singer, perhaps most notable for her roles as the second Billie Jo Bradley on Petticoat Junction , and as a regular cast member in the television series Hee Haw until 1992....
- Frederick Knight
- Annette SnellAnnette SnellAnnette Snell was a rhythm and blues singer, born in Miami and died in Georgia on April 4, 1977, in the Southern Airways Flight 242 crash.Annette Snell was first a member of the girl group The Fabulettes. In 1968, Annette left the group to go to New York and pursue a solo career...
- King FloydKing FloydKing Floyd was a New Orleans soul singer and songwriter, best known for his Top 10 hit from 1970, "Groove Me".-Early career:...
- Jean KnightJean KnightJean Knight is an African-American soul/R&B/funk singer, best known for her 1971 Stax Records hit single, "Mr. Big Stuff".-Early years:...
- Little ArchieLittle Archie (Soul Singer)Archie P. Himons was born in West Virginia on September 22, 1942. He is currently known as Aashid Himons.Himons began his music career as pianist and soul singer signed to Dial Records by Buddy Killen in 1966. He had two popular soul singles "All I Have To Do", and "You Can't Tie Me Down".He died...
- Len Wade
- Wayne HandyWayne Handy-Early life:Wayne Jackson Handy was born on May 14, 1935 in what is now Eden, North Carolina. He grew up in neighboring Reidsville, North Carolina, a once thriving tobacco town and home to the American Tobacco Company. Wayne's father was a farmer and letter carrier, and his mother a housewife...
Label variations
Dial Records had the distinction of going through four different distributors:- London-distributed label (early 60's, numbered in the 3000's): black and red label, large logo at top
- Atlantic-distributed label (mid-to-late 60's, 4000's): same label as above
- Mercury-distributed label (early 70's, 1000's): yellow and orange label, smaller logo at top
- TK-distributed label (late 70's, 2800's): yellow, blue and green label, small logo at top