Exclusive Records was a record label established by

Leon René Leon René (February 6, 1902 – May 30, 1982) was an American music composer of pop, R&B and rock and roll songs and a record producer in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. He sometimes used the songwriting pseudonym Jimmy Thomas or Jimmie Thom ...

, which existed from 1944 to 1950.

History

Exclusive Records was established by Leon René in Los Angeles in 1944 and ceased operations in January 1950. Buddy Baker was the music director. The label's roster included music by

Lucky Thompson Eli "Lucky" Thompson (June 16, 1924 – July 30, 2005) was an American jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist whose playing combined elements of swing and bebop. Although John Coltrane usually receives the most credit for bringing the soprano sa ...

, the Basin Street Boys, the Ceele Burke Orchestra, Edgar Hayes & His Stardusters,

Herb Jeffries Herb Jeffries (born Umberto Alexander Valentino; September 24, 1913 – May 25, 2014) was an American actor of film and television and popular music and jazz singer-songwriter, known for his baritone voice. He starred in several low-budget "ra ...

, Rickey Jordan,

Jack McVea John Vivian McVea (November 5, 1914 – December 27, 2000) was an American swing, blues, and rhythm and blues woodwind player and bandleader. He played clarinet and tenor and baritone saxophone. Career Born in Los Angeles, California, his fat ...

& His Orchestra,

Mabel Scott Mabel Bernice Scott (April 30, 1915 – July 20, 2000) was an American gospel music and R&B vocalist. She lived in New York and Cleveland before arriving on the West Coast blues scene in 1942. Mabel is probably remembered more for her 1948 hit ...

, Frantic Fay Thomas, Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers, and Johnny Moore's Three Blazers with Charles Brown.Dave Penny
Biography of Johnny Moore
Black Cat Rockabilly Europe. Retrieved 2012-03-31. Leon René and his brother

Otis René Otis Joseph René Jr. was an American songwriter and record label owner. As a songwriter, he is notable as the co-author of " When It's Sleepy Time Down South", which became a signature song for Louis Armstrong. Biography Otis René was born in ...

, who owned

Excelsior Records Excelsior Records was an American record label established by Otis René, which existed from 1944 to 1971. It is particularly notable as having released some of the earliest recordings of Nat King Cole. It is not to be confused with former MCA and ...

, purchased a shellac record pressing plant, but when the format changed from 78 rpm to 45 rpm, their old equipment could not press the new smaller vinyl discs, and both labels went out of business. In 1951, Leon René started up

Class Records Class Records was an American record label established in Los Angeles, California in 1951 by songwriter and record producer Leon René. Leon René and his brother Otis had previously established and run the independent rhythm and blues labels E ...

with his son, musician Googie René. They formed

Rendezvous Records Rendezvous Records was an American record label, established in 1958 in Los Angeles, California. Its biggest successes were "In the Mood" (#4 US) with Ernie Fields along with "Bumble Boogie" (#21) and "Nut Rocker" (#23) recorded by members of it ...

with new partners in 1958.

Roster

* Big Jay McNeely * Buddy Baker Orchestra * Ceele Burke Orchestra * Charles Lind * Dan Burley & His Skiffle Boys * Doye O'Dell *

Edgar Hayes Edgar Junius Hayes (May 23, 1902 – June 28, 1979) was an American jazz pianist and bandleader. Born in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, Hayes attended Wilberforce University, where he graduated with a degree in music in the early 1920 ...

& His Stardusters *

Ernie Andrews Ernest Mitchell Andrews Jr. (December 25, 1927 – February 21, 2022) was an American jazz, blues, and pop singer. Life and career Andrews was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but grew up in Los Angeles, and is said to have been discovered by ...

* Four Hits and a Miss *

Frances Wayne Frances Wayne (born Chiarina Francesca Bartocci or Clara Bertocci, August 26, 1924 – February 6, 1978) was an American jazz vocalist. She was best known for her recording of "Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe." Early years and career Wayn ...

* Frank Haywood * "Frantic" Fay Thomas * Gladys Watts *

& His Orchestra * Jimmie Hudson * Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers * Joe Swift (with Johnny Otis & His Orchestra) * Johnny Moore's Three Blazers * Les Robinson Orchestra *

* Paul Martin Orchestra * Pete Peterson Orchestra * Prince Cooper Trio *

Rafael Méndez Rafael Méndez (March 26, 1906 – September 15, 1981) was a Mexican virtuoso solo trumpeter. He is known as the " Heifetz of the Trumpet." Early life Méndez was born in Jiquilpan, Michoacán, Mexico to a musical family. As a child, he perf ...

Orchestra *

Red Callender George Sylvester "Red" Callender (March 6, 1916 – March 8, 1992) was an American string bass and tuba player. He is perhaps best known as a jazz musician, but worked with an array of pop, rock and vocal acts as a member of The Wrecking Cr ...

Trio *

Redd Harper Redd Harper (born September 29, 1903 in Nocona, Texas, United States - d. February 16, 1992 in Los Angeles, California, USA), also known as Mr. Texas, was an American composer, author, singer, actor, and evangelist.Internet Movie Database. "Redd ...

* Rickey Jordan *

Smokey Hogg Andrew "Smokey" Hogg (January 27, 1914 – May 1, 1960) was an American post-war Texas blues and country blues musician. Life and career Hogg was born near Westconnie, Texas, and grew up on a farm. He was taught to play the guitar by his fath ...

* Steve Miller's Four Barons * Texas Jim Lewis & His Lone Star Cowboys * The Basin Street Boys * The Dixieaires * The Famous Ward Singers of Philadelphia * The Gay Sisters of Chicago * The Sallie Martin Singers * WMA Soul Stirrers of Houston

References

External links

Exclusive Records
on the Internet Archive'
Great 78 Project
{{Authority control American record labels Jazz record labels