Herald Records

Herald Records was an American independent record label established in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1952 by Fred Mendelsohn. The company emerged during the postwar expansion of the United States recording business, when small regional labels played an important role in discovering performers and issuing music outside the major-label system. Herald operated alongside related music businesses, including Ember Records and Al Silver's Angel Publishing operation. Mendelsohn initially founded Herald with Al Silver and Silver's brother-in-law. Mendelsohn later departed, after which Silver and his associate continued operating the label. The company released music by performers working in rhythm and blues and related popular styles. Its catalog included recordings by Lightnin' Hopkins, whom the label signed in 1954, and the Mellowkings, who were signed in 1957. Herald's best-known commercial success was "Stay," recorded by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs. Released in 1960, the song became the label's defining hit and is widely regarded as its most significant contribution to popular music. The record's success gave Herald national visibility even though the company remained an independent operation rather than a major corporate label. By the early 1960s, Herald, its sister label Ember, and Silver's Angel Publishing business were facing substantial tax liabilities. Silver chose to liquidate the businesses and repay creditors who had supported their development rather than seek protection through bankruptcy. That decision brought the label's active business operations to an end. Herald is consequently remembered less as a continuing music company than as a historically important independent label whose catalog reflects the rhythm-and-blues and early rock-and-roll market of the 1950s and 1960s.

Herald Records was founded in 1952 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, during a period when independent labels were central to the development and distribution of American rhythm and blues and early rock-and-roll music. Its founder was Fred Mendelsohn, who established the company with Al Silver and Silver's brother-in-law. The label was structured as a small independent operation rather than as part of one of the established major recording groups. Mendelsohn subsequently left the business. After his departure, Al Silver and his associate continued the label's operations. Herald's roster reflected the broadening commercial audience for blues, rhythm and blues, vocal-group music, and related popular styles. In 1954, the label signed Lightnin' Hopkins, connecting Herald with one of the best-known blues performers of the period. In 1957, it signed the Mellowkings, further establishing a presence in the vocal and rhythm-and-blues market. Herald's most important release came in 1960 with "Stay" by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs. The song became the label's biggest hit and provided Herald with a level of national recognition that was unusual for a small independent company. Its success remains the central event in the label's recorded legacy and the principal reason Herald continues to appear in histories of postwar American popular music. Herald was part of a broader business network associated with Al Silver. That network included the sister label Ember Records and Angel Publishing. In the early 1960s, the companies faced substantial tax bills. Silver elected to liquidate the businesses and repay creditors who had helped finance and develop the operations, rather than use bankruptcy protection. The liquidation ended Herald's active life as a functioning label. The company is therefore best understood as a defunct historical record label, remembered for its independent role and for a small but influential catalog rather than for an ongoing corporate or consumer brand.

• 1960

  "Stay" becomes the label's signature hit

  [1]Herald Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs' "Stay" became Herald Records' biggest hit.

• 1960

  Associated businesses enter liquidation

  [1]Herald Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Herald, Ember Records, and Angel Publishing were liquidated after facing major tax liabilities.

• 1957

  The Mellowkings join Herald

  [1]Herald Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label signed the Mellowkings during its active period.

• 1954

  Lightnin' Hopkins joins the roster

  [1]Herald Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Herald signed blues artist Lightnin' Hopkins.

• 1952

  Herald Records established

  [1]Herald Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Fred Mendelsohn founded Herald Records in Elizabeth, New Jersey, with Al Silver and Silver's brother-in-law.

An independent American record label focused on rhythm and blues, popular music, and emerging rock-and-roll performers during the 1950s and 1960s.

• Recorded music · 1952

  Herald Records singles

  Herald's principal products were singles issued by American rhythm-and-blues, blues, vocal-group, and popular-music performers. The label's catalog was built around individual releases rather than a large contemporary album program, reflecting the commercial structure of the independent record business in the 1950s and early 1960s.

• Single · 1960

  "Stay" by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs

  Released in 1960, "Stay" was the signature release associated with Herald Records and its largest commercial success. The recording by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs gave the small independent label national visibility and remains the defining title in accounts of Herald's history.

• 1960

  Liquidation instead of bankruptcy protectionStrategy

  Background

  Herald Records, sister label Ember Records, and Angel Publishing faced large tax liabilities in the early 1960s.

  Action taken

  Al Silver chose to liquidate the associated businesses and pay creditors rather than seek protection through bankruptcy.

  Aftermath

  The decision ended Herald's active operations and left the label as a historical catalog brand.

  Source

1. 1Herald Recordsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Herald and Ember Records on the Internet Archive's Great 78 Projectarchive.org