Ember Records
Encyclopedia
Ember Records was the name of two record labels of the 1950s and 1960s, one American and one British.
. Therefore, the only way independent record labels could achieve success was by concentrating on specialist genres.
Kruger realised that considerable success could be gained if, rather than focusing on one specific musical genre, he instead focused on a plethora of them. Releases under the jazz
, pop
, R&B, beat
, soul
, rockabilly
, and other genres followed and Kruger started to establish Ember as a major independent force in the UK. As Kruger explains:
The first major achievement and breakthrough for the label came when Kruger realised the British music fan's thirst for American music, and though the five major labels dominated the best licensing deals the US had to offer, some hot American independents did not yet have a presence. Kruger flew out to the US and did deals with, amongst others, 20th Century Fox
(a major coup for an independent at the time), Sam Phillips
, Harry Simeone Chorale’s ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ label and Syd Nathan, boss of King and Federal Records in Ohio.
As Kruger recalls:
Becoming the first British label to set up its own distribution and pressing facilities helped Ember cement their place in the industry. By 1963, Ember had built up a good roster of UK artists such as Matt Monro
, Grant Tracy and The Sunsets, and the talented duo John Shakespeare
and Ken Hawker (recording as Carter, Lewis & The Southerners). The next big break came when composer, producer and arranger John Barry
left EMI
to join Kruger. During his time with Ember, he scored hits with pioneering folk duo Chad Stuart & Jeremy Clyde
and, if rumour is to be believed, ‘Christine’ by ‘Miss X’ (Joyce Blair
).
As the decade wore on, the label continued to release records from across the musical spectrum, from film and TV themes such as The Liars (which established a young Nyree Dawn Porter) through to the noted soul 45’s for which the label became renowned. These featured acts such as The Casinos, The Checkmates and Lou Lawton, Stax hitmakers The Bar-Kays
, King Curtis
and The Pac-keys.
On the recommendation of John Abbey, who set up the subsidiary soul label Speciality where some of those previous releases first appeared, Kruger gave a debut to the man who would go on to become Ember’s biggest hit: Glen Campbell
. Despite a considerable investment from Kruger however, they, initially at least, struggled to achieve success.
It was around this time that the label became the first British independent label
to have three of its singles at the top of the American charts.
, and, through the release by Avengers actress Linda Thorson
, the label proved, as they had with Twiggy
years earlier, that she could have as much success in front of the microphone as she subsequently had away from it.
In 1979, after Kruger had continued to put an impressive number of soul releases by artists such as Ed Robinson, Tony and the Tyrones and golden oldies
such as Gladys Knight
, as well as new albums by PJ Proby and Johnny Otis
, the label, essentially becoming a victim of its own success, was wound down. By this stage Kruger was involved with a number of other businesses in the music industry, not least becoming one of Europe’s leading concert promoters, and felt he could no longer dedicate the time to the label that he felt it deserved.
In 2009, Fantastic Voyage
, a subsidiary of the Future Noise record label, started releasing a series of albums focused on the various genres Ember had promoted. This was to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the first Ember release and the thirtieth Anniversary of the last.
1950s to 60s
In the late 1950s, the eccentric avid jazz fan Jeffrey Kruger, owner of the famous Flamingo Jazz Club, was looking for a new challenge. At the time, the British music industry was largely dominated by five major record labels who, thanks to the lack of a national popular music radio station, found it easy to dominate the airwaves by buying slots on Radio LuxembourgRadio Luxembourg (English)
Radio Luxembourg is a commercial broadcaster in many languages from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is nowadays known in most non-English languages as RTL ....
. Therefore, the only way independent record labels could achieve success was by concentrating on specialist genres.
Kruger realised that considerable success could be gained if, rather than focusing on one specific musical genre, he instead focused on a plethora of them. Releases under the jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, R&B, beat
Beat music
Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a pop and rock music genre that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Beat music is a fusion of rock and roll, doo wop, skiffle, R&B and soul...
, 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...
, rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
, and other genres followed and Kruger started to establish Ember as a major independent force in the UK. As Kruger explains:
The first major achievement and breakthrough for the label came when Kruger realised the British music fan's thirst for American music, and though the five major labels dominated the best licensing deals the US had to offer, some hot American independents did not yet have a presence. Kruger flew out to the US and did deals with, amongst others, 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
(a major coup for an independent at the time), Sam Phillips
Sam Phillips
Samuel Cornelius Phillips , better known as Sam Phillips, was an American businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s...
, Harry Simeone Chorale’s ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ label and Syd Nathan, boss of King and Federal Records in Ohio.
As Kruger recalls:
Becoming the first British label to set up its own distribution and pressing facilities helped Ember cement their place in the industry. By 1963, Ember had built up a good roster of UK artists such as Matt Monro
Matt Monro
Matt Monro was an English singer who became one of the most popular entertainers on the international music scene during the 1960s...
, Grant Tracy and The Sunsets, and the talented duo John Shakespeare
John Shakespeare
John Shakespeare was the father of William Shakespeare. He was the son of Richard Shakespeare of Snitterfield, a farmer. He moved to Stratford-upon-Avon and married Mary Arden, with whom he had eight children, five of whom survived into adulthood...
and Ken Hawker (recording as Carter, Lewis & The Southerners). The next big break came when composer, producer and arranger John Barry
John Barry (composer)
John Barry Prendergast, OBE was an English conductor and composer of film music. He is best known for composing the soundtracks for 12 of the James Bond films between 1962 and 1987...
left EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
to join Kruger. During his time with Ember, he scored hits with pioneering folk duo Chad Stuart & Jeremy Clyde
Jeremy Clyde
Michael Thomas Jeremy Clyde is an English actor and musician. The son of Lady Elizabeth Wellesley, he made his first public appearance as a pageboy at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in 1953...
and, if rumour is to be believed, ‘Christine’ by ‘Miss X’ (Joyce Blair
Joyce Blair
Joyce Blair was an English actress and dancer. She was the sister of Lionel Blair, with whom she often performed...
).
As the decade wore on, the label continued to release records from across the musical spectrum, from film and TV themes such as The Liars (which established a young Nyree Dawn Porter) through to the noted soul 45’s for which the label became renowned. These featured acts such as The Casinos, The Checkmates and Lou Lawton, Stax hitmakers The Bar-Kays
Bar-Kays
The Bar-Kays are a popular soul, R&B, and funk group who began performing in 1966 and continue to perform today, although with only one original member. The group had dozens of charting singles from the 1960s to the 1980s, including "Soul Finger" The Bar-Kays are a popular soul, R&B, and funk group...
, King Curtis
King Curtis
Curtis Ousley , who performed under the stage name King Curtis, was an American saxophone virtuoso known for rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, funk and soul jazz. Variously a bandleader, band member, and session musician, he was also a musical director and record producer...
and The Pac-keys.
On the recommendation of John Abbey, who set up the subsidiary soul label Speciality where some of those previous releases first appeared, Kruger gave a debut to the man who would go on to become Ember’s biggest hit: Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
. Despite a considerable investment from Kruger however, they, initially at least, struggled to achieve success.
It was around this time that the label became the first British independent label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
to have three of its singles at the top of the American charts.
1970s to present
As Ember moved into the seventies it put out successful releases by the likes of Julie Rogers and Susan MaughanSusan Maughan
Susan Maughan is an English singer who released successful singles in the 1960s.-Career:...
, and, through the release by Avengers actress Linda Thorson
Linda Thorson
Linda Thorson is a Canadian actress, most famous for her work as Tara King in The Avengers.-Personal life:...
, the label proved, as they had with Twiggy
Twiggy
Lesley Lawson née Hornby known as Twiggy is an English model, actress, and singer. In the early-1960s she became a prominent British teenage model of swinging sixties London with others such as Penelope Tree....
years earlier, that she could have as much success in front of the microphone as she subsequently had away from it.
In 1979, after Kruger had continued to put an impressive number of soul releases by artists such as Ed Robinson, Tony and the Tyrones and golden oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
such as Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
, as well as new albums by PJ Proby and Johnny Otis
Johnny Otis
Johnny Otis is an American singer, musician, talent scout, disc jockey, composer, arranger, recording artist, record producer, vibraphonist, drummer, percussionist, bandleader, and impresario.He is commonly referred to as The Godfather Of Rhythm And Blues.-Personal life:Otis, the son of Alexander...
, the label, essentially becoming a victim of its own success, was wound down. By this stage Kruger was involved with a number of other businesses in the music industry, not least becoming one of Europe’s leading concert promoters, and felt he could no longer dedicate the time to the label that he felt it deserved.
In 2009, Fantastic Voyage
Fantastic Voyage
Fantastic Voyage is a 1966 science fiction film written by Harry Kleiner, based on a story by Otto Klement and Jerome Bixby.Bantam Books obtained the rights for a paperback novelization based on the screenplay and approached Isaac Asimov to write it....
, a subsidiary of the Future Noise record label, started releasing a series of albums focused on the various genres Ember had promoted. This was to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the first Ember release and the thirtieth Anniversary of the last.