Racing records were 78-rpm phonograph records that were marketed to African Americans between the 1920s and 1940s. These records mainly contained racial music, which was composed of several African-American musical genres such as blues, jazz, gospel music, and comedy. At the time, these records constituted the majority of commercial recordings by African-American artists in the United States. Unfortunately, few African-American artists were promoted to white audiences. The racing records were sold by Okeh Records, Emerson Records, Vocalion Records, Victor Talking Machine Company, Paramount Records, and several other companies.
The discs were printed in Quebec but were distributed only in the U. S. as part of Compo's only operations in the United States. For the past four years, John and Val have been actively bringing blues groups to Sacramento through their own summer concert series, Blues On The Patio. Although Plaza's assets were included in the merger, the company Plaza itself was not (it created Crown Records in 1930 as an independent label) and Scranton Button Company, the parent company of Emerson Records (and the company that released records for most of these labels).
Lena also brought the “Blues” to the CSUS student body and her band played regularly at the Sacramento Blues Festival during the many years that Phil Givant was the producer. This led to the Jazz Jubilee asking her to perform on later occasions. Recently, the group received a SAMMIE (Sacramento Area Music Award) for “Best Blues Band” in recognition of their outstanding local band. As a member of Mark's ambitious Harmonica Blowouts, RW has supported nearly every major blues harp artist in the United States. I have never felt any personal prejudice on the part of the blues industry as a white woman singing the blues. As bands do after many years, Scholer formed a new version of the Bill Scholer Blues Band which once represented the Sacramento Blues Society at the Oakland Museum of Art at a meeting of Northern California blues societies and toured Ukraine (which was then part of the USSR as part of the Davis Sister City Project).
A true product of the Sacramento blues scene, guitarist Aaron King has been an ambassador of Sacramento blues around the world showing a style that is due both to jazz guitarists such as Herb Ellis and to country guitarists such as Hank Garland and to blues guitarists such as Albert King and Albert Collins. The SAMMIES awarded them “Best Blues Band” three times which entitles them to a place in the SAMMIES Hall of Fame. Under his leadership with SBS there were five Blues in the Park concert series as well as the release of Sacramento Blues, a compilation CD of sixteen Sacramento blues artists. He joined KXJZ team in July 1991 to create “Mick Martin's Blues Party” which is currently played on Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. Marina Texeira, Ron's daughter soon joined her father and brother and was instrumental in attracting nationally known blues artists every day of the week. In late '70s Ray played with The Nate Shiner Blues Band and through local blues promoter Phil Givant had an opportunity to tour with blues piano legend Floyd Dixon followed by a brief stint as guitarist for Mark St. In 1992 Kenny visited two blues bars in Sacramento: The Torch Club on 16th and L Streets; Sam's Hof Brau located on J and 17th; and The Sutter Street Saloon located in Folsom. Portraits of Smith and lists of his albums were published in advertisements for newspapers such as Chicago Defender, Atlanta Independent, New York Colored News and others popular with African-Americans (although Smith's records were part of OKeH 4000 series).Sacramento has been home to some influential record labels that have helped shape American music over time.
From Okeh Records to Paramount Records, these labels have released some iconic music from African-American artists that have gone on to become classics. These labels have also helped promote local talent from Sacramento such as Lena who brought “Blues” to CSUS student body or Mark's ambitious Harmonica Blowouts who supported nearly every major blues harp artist in the United States. The SAMMIES awarded them “Best Blues Band” three times which entitles them to a place in the SAMMIES Hall of Fame. Under his leadership with SBS there were five Blues in the Park concert series as well as the release of Sacramento Blues, a compilation CD of sixteen Sacramento blues artists. KXJZ team also joined forces with Mick Martin's Blues Party which is currently played on Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m., while Marina Texeira has been instrumental in attracting nationally known blues artists every day of the week. Sacramento has been an important hub for blues music over time, thanks to its influential record labels that have released some iconic music from African-American artists that have gone on to become classics. From Okeh Records to Paramount Records, these labels have helped promote local talent from Sacramento such as Lena who brought “Blues” to CSUS student body or Mark's ambitious Harmonica Blowouts who supported nearly every major blues harp artist in the United States.
