Domino Records was an American regional record label started in 1957 in Austin, Texas, United States.[1] Artists included George Underwood, Clarence Smith and the Daylighters, Ray Campi, the Slades, Joyce Webb, Jesse Harris, and Joyce Harris.[2] The label was led by Lora Jane Richardson from beginning to end (1957–1961).[1] Operations ceased in the early 1960s.[2]

History

Domino Records was formed in 1957 by eleven classmates of a night-school course in music marketing, each of whom contributed a weekly sum of five dollars for corporate expenses.[1] The most commercially successful record released by Domino was by a Caucasian doo-wop quartet originally named "The Spades", who soon changed their name to Slades since their original name was sometimes construed as a racial slur.[1] The 1958 single "You Cheated" was a hit in Texas and drew the attention of much larger labels interested in national distribution.[1] The biggest interest came from Dot Records, but Domino declined the distribution deal, deciding they wanted hire their own distributor and keep the group on Domino.[1] The chosen distributor did not meet expectations, and copies intended for the national market remained in storage.[1] Rebuffed, Dot then recorded their own group named "The Sheilds" to cover the Slades' song.[1] Dot's version charted on Billboard at number 12, while the original just reached number 42.[1] In 1959, the label put out a call to young artists local to Austin, hoping to find additional new talent.[3] By the end of 1959 all but three of the original partners had departed, leaving the label moribund. These three, Anne Miller, Kathy Parker and Lora Jane Richardson, decided to re-start the label in 1960 and expand into new genres.[1] The label, which encouraged its artists to self-pen their material, retained publishing rights to original songs.[1] This decision led to an infusion of funds when The Fleetwoods covered the Slades' first recording "You Mean Everything to Me" as the B-side of "Mr. Blue."[1] Otherwise success eluded the label, and it closed in 1961.[1]

Legacy

Domino Records is considered Austin's first noteworthy record label.[1]

Sonny Rhodes felt that he was treated more fairly at Domino Records than he was with several other labels he recorded for.[4]

In 1998 Ace Records released The Domino Records Story, a compilation of the label's releases.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Corcoran, Michael (June 5, 2010). "Little indie label Domino laid down Austin sounds before scene's heyday". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Hickinbotham, Gary S. "Recording Industry". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  3. ↑ Bustin, John (November 24, 1959). "Local Record Company Looking for New Talent". The Austin American – via newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Skelly, Richard (November 11, 2004). "On the Road With Sonny Rhodes". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey – via newspapers.com.
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