End Records was an American record label founded in 1957 by George Goldner and later absorbed into Roulette Records.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
End Records was an American record label established in 1957 by music entrepreneur George Goldner. The label operated during the formative period of the postwar U.S. singles market, when independent labels played a major role in bringing rhythm and blues, doo-wop, vocal-group pop, and related styles to national audiences. Its roster included several influential acts, most notably the Flamingos, the Chantels, and Little Anthony and the Imperials. These artists placed End within the network of New York-based independent labels that helped shape the development and commercial reach of early rock and roll and rhythm and blues. The label's catalog was not limited to established vocal groups. End also issued recordings associated with prominent public figures, including singles by Marilyn Monroe and Wilt Chamberlain. Those releases illustrate the label's willingness to operate beyond a narrowly defined musical identity and to capitalize on the public visibility of entertainers and celebrities. Nevertheless, End's historical importance is principally connected with its recordings by vocal and rhythm-and-blues groups rather than with a broad modern brand portfolio. In 1962, End Records was acquired by Morris Levy and incorporated into Roulette Records. This transaction ended End's existence as an independent label, while allowing its recordings and associated rights to continue within the Roulette organization. End therefore became part of a larger catalog and label structure rather than continuing as a separately operated contemporary imprint. Roulette Records was later purchased by Rhino Records in 1988. During the 1990s, Rhino was sold to the company that became Warner Music Group. As a result of these successive ownership changes, Warner Music Group currently owns the End Records archives. The End name is consequently best understood today as a historical record-label imprint and catalog identity rather than as an active, independently operating label. Its continuing relevance comes from the preservation, reissue potential, and cultural significance of recordings made during the label's late-1950s and early-1960s period.
History
End Records was founded in the United States in 1957 by George Goldner. Its emergence coincided with a period in which independent record companies were central to the growth of rhythm and blues, doo-wop, vocal-group music, and early rock and roll. Rather than operating as a modern multinational label with a broad portfolio of divisions, End functioned primarily as an independent label issuing individual singles and artist recordings. The label became associated with a number of successful recording acts. Its best-known artists included the Flamingos, the Chantels, and Little Anthony and the Imperials. These groups connected End with the vocal harmonies, street-corner doo-wop traditions, and rhythm-and-blues performance styles that strongly influenced the evolution of popular music in the late 1950s and early 1960s. End also issued singles by Marilyn Monroe and Wilt Chamberlain, showing that its release program could extend to recordings by highly recognizable public figures as well as specialist musical acts. A major organizational turning point came in 1962, when Morris Levy acquired End Records. Levy incorporated the label into Roulette Records, removing End from the market as an autonomous record company. The acquisition nevertheless kept the End identity and its recordings within a larger corporate catalog. In historical terms, the transaction shifted End from an active independent business into a label imprint and rights collection associated with Roulette. Roulette Records was purchased by Rhino Records in 1988. Rhino subsequently became part of the corporate chain that led to Warner Music Group during the 1990s. Warner Music Group currently owns the End Records archives. This chain of ownership means that End's commercial activity belongs mainly to the past, while its recordings remain relevant as catalog assets and as documents of American popular music history. The label's legacy rests on the artists and recordings released during its operating period, especially its contributions to vocal-group and rhythm-and-blues culture. End is therefore best classified as a historical American record-label imprint rather than an active standalone brand. Available reference material does not provide a complete release chronology, detailed headquarters information, financial data, or a comprehensive account of later reissues.
- 1988
Roulette acquired by Rhino Records
[1]Rhino Records purchased Roulette Records, placing the End catalog within Rhino's holdings.
- 1962
Acquisition by Morris Levy
[1]Morris Levy acquired End Records and incorporated it into Roulette Records.
- 1957
End Records founded
[1]George Goldner founded End Records in the United States as an independent record label.
Archives enter Warner Music Group ownership
[1]After Rhino was sold during the 1990s to the company that became Warner Music Group, Warner Music Group became the owner of the End Records archives.
Products and positioning
A historically significant American independent label associated with vocal-group pop, doo-wop, rhythm and blues, and early rock and roll.
Record-label releases · 1957
End Records singles
End's principal products were commercial singles issued during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The label's release activity centered on vocal groups, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, and related early rock-and-roll styles. Its catalog also included recordings by public figures outside the core vocal-group scene, including Marilyn Monroe and Wilt Chamberlain.
Vocal-group and rhythm-and-blues recordings
Flamingos recordings
The Flamingos were among End Records' most successful recording acts. Their association with the label forms part of End's contribution to the development and commercial circulation of sophisticated vocal-group music and doo-wop during the postwar American singles era.
Vocal-group recordings
Chantels recordings
The Chantels were one of the prominent groups recorded by End Records. Their inclusion in the label's catalog reflects End's role in releasing vocal-group music during a period when independent labels helped bring rhythm-and-blues-oriented acts to wider audiences.
Vocal-group and rhythm-and-blues recordings
Little Anthony and the Imperials recordings
Little Anthony and the Imperials were among End's successful recording acts. Their releases are part of the label's historical identity and its connection to the vocal-group and rhythm-and-blues traditions that influenced early rock and roll and later popular music.
Brand decisions
1988
Roulette Records sold to Rhino RecordsM&ABackground
End Records had previously been incorporated into Roulette Records.
Action taken
Rhino Records purchased Roulette Records and acquired the associated catalog holdings.
Aftermath
The End Records archive moved into Rhino's ownership and later became part of Warner Music Group's holdings.
1962
End Records incorporated into Roulette RecordsM&ABackground
End Records had operated as an independent American label since its founding by George Goldner in 1957.
Action taken
Morris Levy acquired End Records and incorporated it into Roulette Records.
Aftermath
End ceased to operate as an independent label, while its recordings and identity continued within the Roulette catalog.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Canada Goose launches NBA capsule collection with Salehe Bembury[2]
Canada Goose launched a limited-edition capsule collection with the NBA and designer Salehe Bembury. The collection is available on Canada Goose’s website, at its London and Paris stores, and through exclusive European wholesale partner END.
Reported
END. and adidas announce Three Bridges collaboration[3]
END. and adidas announced the Three Bridges collaboration, a collection based on three adidas Originals silhouettes and inspired by END.'s flagship cities and their bridges. The collection was scheduled to drop online and in END. stores on March 13.
Sources3 sources
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