J & S Records
Encyclopedia
J & S Records was a New York
record label
started in 1956 and continued through to the 1960s. The owner was Zelma “Zell” Sanders (1922–1976), one of the few woman label owners in the record business.
In the early 1950s Sanders was managing a girl vocal group, The Hearts. She arranged a contract for them on New York's Baton Records
and hired and fired members till she got the mix she wanted. In mid 1956 she decided to start her own label, J & S Records.
The label's first big success came in 1957, with Johnnie and Joe's "Over the Mountain, Across the Sea", a duo which included Sanders' daughter Johnnie Louise Richardson. The song was written by Rex Garvin
, who also sang vocal harmonies. Garvin was pianist and musical director with the Hearts, and became J&S’s musical back room boy. As well as writing and producing many of the songs that the label released, he also sang back up vocals when required. "Over the Mountain, Across the Sea" was leased to Chess Records
for national distribution.
The Hearts themselves moved over from Baton to J&S in mid 1957. Baby Washington, one of the later members of The Hearts, also recorded under her own name for subsidiary label Neptune Records
. Freddie Scott
was another early signing in 1956. Sanders leased to many companies who would spread her product better than she was able, including Gone Records
and ABC-Paramount Records. Subsidiary labels included Zell's Records, Neptune Records, and Dice Records.
By the early '60s J&S was in financial trouble, although long-standing contacts with Chess managed to keep it afloat. A new label Tuff Records was created with Chess money, and Abner Spector was told to keep an eye on it. In 1963 Spector used The Hearts, renamed as The Jaynetts
, and had a big hit with "Sally Go 'Round the Roses
". Sanders released music credited to the Hearts, The Jaynetts, The Clickettes, The Poppies, The Z-Debs, The Endeavours, and The Patty Cakes, all made by the same group of girls.
Zell Sanders died in 1976, and her daughter Johnnie Louise Richardson in 1988.
New York City
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record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
started in 1956 and continued through to the 1960s. The owner was Zelma “Zell” Sanders (1922–1976), one of the few woman label owners in the record business.
In the early 1950s Sanders was managing a girl vocal group, The Hearts. She arranged a contract for them on New York's Baton Records
Baton Records
Baton Records was an independent New York City based record label pioneered in the 1950s by record producer Sol Rabinowitz.Baton's first record, and subsequent hit, was "A Thousand Stars" by the R&B group The Rivileers. The label's most enduring hit is arguably "I've Got My Mo-Jo Working" written...
and hired and fired members till she got the mix she wanted. In mid 1956 she decided to start her own label, J & S Records.
The label's first big success came in 1957, with Johnnie and Joe's "Over the Mountain, Across the Sea", a duo which included Sanders' daughter Johnnie Louise Richardson. The song was written by Rex Garvin
Rex Garvin
Rex Garvin is an American former R&B singer, songwriter, keyboard player and arranger. His writing credits include the 1957 US chart hit "Over The Mountain, Across The Sea", by Johnnie and Joe, and his own 1966 recording "Sock It To 'Em J.B.", later recorded by The Specials.-Life and career:He was...
, who also sang vocal harmonies. Garvin was pianist and musical director with the Hearts, and became J&S’s musical back room boy. As well as writing and producing many of the songs that the label released, he also sang back up vocals when required. "Over the Mountain, Across the Sea" was leased to Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
for national distribution.
The Hearts themselves moved over from Baton to J&S in mid 1957. Baby Washington, one of the later members of The Hearts, also recorded under her own name for subsidiary label Neptune Records
Neptune Records
Neptune Records was a record label founded by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff in 1969. They featured artists such as The O'Jays, The Three Degrees and Billy Paul....
. Freddie Scott
Freddie Scott
Freddie Scott was an American soul singer and songwriter. His biggest hits were "Hey, Girl", a top ten US pop hit in 1963, and "Are You Lonely For Me", a no.1 hit on the R&B chart in early 1967.-Life and career:...
was another early signing in 1956. Sanders leased to many companies who would spread her product better than she was able, including Gone Records
Gone Records
Gone Records was a record label founded by George Goldner that was active in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was founded in 1957. Among the artists that recorded for the label were Bill Haley & His Comets, Ral Donner, Jo-Ann Campbell, and Johnny Rivers. It was acquired by Morris Levy and...
and ABC-Paramount Records. Subsidiary labels included Zell's Records, Neptune Records, and Dice Records.
By the early '60s J&S was in financial trouble, although long-standing contacts with Chess managed to keep it afloat. A new label Tuff Records was created with Chess money, and Abner Spector was told to keep an eye on it. In 1963 Spector used The Hearts, renamed as The Jaynetts
The Jaynetts
The Jaynetts were a Bronx, New York girl group who became one-hit wonders with "Sally Go 'Round the Roses", which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963.-Beginnings:...
, and had a big hit with "Sally Go 'Round the Roses
Sally Go 'Round the Roses
"Sally Go 'Round the Roses" is the name of a 1963 hit by the Jaynetts, a Bronx-based one-hit wonder girl group, released by J&S Records on the Tuff label.-Background:...
". Sanders released music credited to the Hearts, The Jaynetts, The Clickettes, The Poppies, The Z-Debs, The Endeavours, and The Patty Cakes, all made by the same group of girls.
Zell Sanders died in 1976, and her daughter Johnnie Louise Richardson in 1988.