Felsted Records UK
Encyclopedia
Felsted Records began as a subsidiary of the UK
Decca Records
in July 1954
with music mainly in the jazz
and dance band genres with recordings leased from the French Blue Star, Riviera and Classique labels. The label took its name from the village where Sir Edward Lewis
, the head of UK Decca, lived.
Late in 1957, Felsted Records US opened in the USA operating from London Records
' office in New York and was marketed as a pop label.
In 1958 Felsted was reinstated in the UK leasing US material contracted through its US office. Neither labels had much commercial success: the UK label was closed in 1960
and its roster transferred to London Records. Its only release of note was "Smokie", the first single by Bill Black
's Combo, Black having been Elvis Presley
's bassist.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
in July 1954
1954 in music
-Events:*January 14 - First documented use of the abbreviated term "Rock 'n' Roll" to promote Alan Freed's Rock 'n' Roll Jubillee, held at St. Nicholas Arena in New York, New York...
with music mainly in 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...
and dance band genres with recordings leased from the French Blue Star, Riviera and Classique labels. The label took its name from the village where Sir Edward Lewis
Edward Lewis (Decca)
Sir Edward Roberts Lewis was an English businessman, best known for leading the Decca recording and technology group for five decades from 1929. He built the company up from nothing to one of the major record labels of the world.A financier by profession, Lewis was professionally engaged by the...
, the head of UK Decca, lived.
Late in 1957, Felsted Records US opened in the USA operating from London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
' office in New York and was marketed as a pop label.
In 1958 Felsted was reinstated in the UK leasing US material contracted through its US office. Neither labels had much commercial success: the UK label was closed in 1960
1960 in music
-Events:*January 14 – Elvis Presley is promoted to Sergeant in the U.S. Army*February 6 – Songwriter Jesse Belvin dies in an automobile accident in Los Angeles...
and its roster transferred to London Records. Its only release of note was "Smokie", the first single by Bill Black
Bill Black
William Patton "Bill" Black, Jr. was an American musician who is noted as one of the pioneers of rockabilly music. Black was the bassist in Elvis Presley's early trio and the leader of Bill Black's Combo....
's Combo, Black having been Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's bassist.