Record Labels

Musicians Joe Hunter and Jack Ashford were part of the group of musicians known as the Funk Brothers whose sound defined Motown in the 1960s and 70s. They worked with such legendary performers as Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, The Miracles and many more. The Funk Brothers are the subject of the new documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown.

REV. : Rock Music Historian Ed Ward finishes a three-part series celebrating Atlantic Records 50th Anniversary. Today, when Atlantic turned to rock.

Rock historian Ed Ward continues with part 2 of 3 in his series on Atlantic Records. This year the recording company is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Today, we look at how Atlantic became a powerhouse for soul music.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles Apollo Records. Many of their albums are being reissued by Delmark.

Record producer Willie Mitchell. A new retrospective album of the 60's and 70's "Hi Label" hits has been released. Mitchell was one of the hit makers for the Memphis-based label in its early days and later was the influential producer who made the sounds of soul greats Al Green, Ann Peebles and Otis Clay so well known.

Rock historian Ed Ward looks back on the West Coast label SST, which was responsible for launching the careers of several seminal punk and alternative bands.

Fresh Air rock historian Ed Ward takes a look at the record label, which emerged as a subsidiary of All Platinum Records. It promoted rap music soon after it first emerged in New York nightclubs.

Rock historian Ed Ward looks at Specialty Records, a label in the 1950s that promoted the music of African American musicians who laid the groundwork for rock and roll.

Professor of English and Director of African and Afro-American Studies at Washington University, Gerald Early. He reflects on the meaning of Motown music to whites and blacks.

Gordy and his record label made stars out of musicians including Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson. He has written his autobiography, "To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown: An Autobiography."

Martha Reeves is the lead singer of Martha and the Vandellas, the Motown group which made it big in the 60's with such hits as "Nowhere to Run," "Heat Wave," and "Dancing in the Street." Her new autobiography, "Dancing in the Street: Confessions of a Motown Diva," is about her career, her conflicts with other Motown singers and managers, and her experiences touring during the height of the Civil Rights movement.

Rock historian Ed Ward shares some of the lesser known works from the Motown label.

A live interview with the former Atlantic Records executive. Wexler was the producer behind some of the greatest soul music of the 60s, including classic sessions with Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding. His memoir of his career is called "Rhythm and the Blues."

Robinson recorded many classic blues and R&B sessions for his Red Robin, Fire/Fury and Enjoy record labels. He recorded Elmore Jones, Buster Brown, and Gladys Knight and the Pips. A new boxed set of work is called "The Fire/Fury Records Story."

Rock historian Ed Ward concludes his profile of the pop and soul record label, founded on a whim by Florence Greenberg.

Rock and roll historian Ed Ward gives us the first part of a two part history of Scepter Records, which--led by Florence Greenberg--discovered and produced the Shirelles and Dionne Warwick, and helped bring black music into the mainstream.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles Bobby Robinson and his Harlem record labels which were responsible for such hits as "Kansas City," and "Fannie Mae," and for launching the career of Gladys Knight.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead give a profile of the FMP label. It specializes in free jazz and features many American and European musicians.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles Ruth Brown. Back in the 50s, Brown was one of the country's top female R&B singer, with hits such as "So Long" and "Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean."