Trix Records was an American

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

, which was set up in 1972, by the

folklorist Folklore studies, less often known as folkloristics, and occasionally tradition studies or folk life studies in the United Kingdom, is the branch of anthropology devoted to the study of folklore. This term, along with its synonyms, gained currenc ...

Peter B. Lowry Peter B. Lowry (April 1, 1941 – June 29, 2022) was an American folklorist, writer, record producer, ethnomusicologist, historian, photographer, forensic musicologist, and teacher who dealt with aspects of popular music, mainly African-American ...

. It lasted just under a decade as an active label dealing mainly with

Piedmont blues Piedmont blues (also known as East Coast, or Southeastern blues) refers primarily to a guitar style, which is characterized by a fingerpicking approach in which a regular, alternating thumb bass string rhythmic pattern supports a syncopated melo ...

artists from the

Southeastern states The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each se ...

(the focus of Lowry's folkloric field research), together with the anthology ''Detroit After Hours'', a collection of Detroit piano players. The label's last release was by David "Honeyboy" Edwards in 1978, although Lowry continued recording until 1980 with Cephas & Wiggins. Lowry's long-time partner, Roberta Casey, ran things in the 1990s and helped in arranging the sale of its eighteen issued LP master tapes to

Joe Fields Joseph Charles Fields Jr. (born November 14, 1953) is a former professional American football center and guard in the National Football League for the New York Jets and the New York Giants. Raised in Deptford Township, New Jersey, Fields ...

of Muse Records. The catalogue was later sold by Fields to

32 Records 32 Records was a record label established in 1995 by record producer Joel Dorn and attorney Robert Miller. Its 32 Jazz imprint released a successful series of compilation albums. It was named for Dorn's favorite sports number. It also released ...

; more recently purchased by Savoy Jazz (JVC). Its roster (released on LP) at the time included blues artists such as Eddie Kirkland, Peg Leg Sam, Frank Edwards, Henry Johnson, Willie Trice,

Guitar Shorty David William Kearney (September 8, 1934 – April 20, 2022), known as Guitar Shorty, was an American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was known for his explosive guitar style and wild stage antics. Credited with influencing both ...

Robert Lockwood Jr. Robert Lockwood Jr. (March 27, 1915 – November 21, 2006) was an American Delta blues guitarist, who recorded for Chess Records and other Chicago labels in the 1950s and 1960s. He was the only guitarist to have learned to play directly fr ...

, Pernell Charity, Tarheel Slim, Roy Dunn,

Henry "Rufe" Johnson Henry "Rufe" Johnson (October 2, 1908 – February 4, 1974), was an American Piedmont blues guitarist, harmonica player, pianist, banjo player, singer and songwriter. On occasion he played slide guitar with a pocket knife. He finally found a la ...

Homesick James Homesick James (April 30, 1910December 13, 2006 was an American blues musician known for his mastery of the slide guitar. He worked with his cousin, Elmore James, and with Sonny Boy Williamson II. Early years Homesick James was born in Somervil ...

Big Chief Ellis Wilbert Thirkield "Big Chief" Ellis (November 10, 1914 – December 20, 1977) was an American blues pianist and vocalist. Biography Ellis was born in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, and was an autodidact at piano. He played at local parties ...

, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Baby Tate, plus Detroit pianists Boogie Woogie Red, Chuck Smith, Emmett Lee Brooks, Carben Givens aka "Lamp", "Little Dickie" Rogers, Charlie Price, and James Barnes, plus "folk" artist Dan DelSanto and jazz artist Maurice Reedus. David "Honeyboy" Edwards' 1978 Trix album, ''I've Been Around'', recorded after a 25-year hiatus, was part of the body of work that won the then 95 year old artist a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2010.

References

Record labels established in 1972 Defunct record labels of the United States Blues record labels {{US-record-label-stub

See also

References