King Records (AMERICAN label, 1943-75, Cincinnati)

NOT the Japanese record company, this American label was established in 1943 in Cincinnati, Ohio by Sydney Nathan. Predominately known as a R&B label, King originally recorded such country greats as Grandpa Jones and The Stanley Brothers as well as R&B favorites like Roy Brown, Little Willie John, Hank Ballard, James Brown, Wynonie Harris and many others. For many years it was one of the oldest independent, family-owned businesses in the USA. In 1968 King merged with Starday Records, started in 1952 by Don Pierce, to become one of the Top 20 companies in the US at that time.

originally headquartered at 1540 Brewster Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio.