Archive for June 1st, 2008

This week, HARLEM salutes one of the most influential record labels in the development of rock n’ roll…

Lew Chudd formed IMPERIAL RECORDS in 1946 in Los Angeles to better serve the Mexican and ethnic community. By 1949 his sights were set on another musical form that was being ignored by the major labels, New Orleans rhythm & blues. He hired bandleader Dave Bartholomew to be his New Orleans A&R; man and producer and rest is R&B; history. Bartholomew signed Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis and The Spiders and Imperial had a soul bucket full of hit records that would end up becoming Rock n’ Roll staples. Get the story behind the story of IMPERIAL RECORDS with Matt The Cat, this week on HARLEM.

Harlem Airs On The 50s on 5:
Monday afternoon 6/2 @ 1pm over Baltimore, MD
Tuesday evening 6/3 @ 9pm PST and Midnight EST
Friday night 6/6 @ 6pm over Seaside Heights, NJ
Sunday morning 6/8 @ 11am over Philly, PA