Zero Records was a record label founded in 1959 in

Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...

, British Columbia, Canada.

History

In the late 1950’s,

Don Grashey Dominic Michael Guarasci (November 1, 1925 – September 12, 2005), better known as Don Grashey, was a songwriter and music producer, best known as the owner of Zero Records. Early life Grashey was born in 1925 in Port Arthur, Ontario (now kno ...

met Charlie Chuck Williams (Chuck) in Thunder Bay. The pair later moved to Vancouver. With the financial help of Norm Burley (the majority owner) and Art Phillips, who would later become

Mayor of Vancouver The mayor of Vancouver is the head and chief executive officer of Vancouver, British Columbia, who is elected for a four-year term. The 41st and current officeholder is Ken Sim, who has held office since November 7, 2022. List indicate ...

, Zero Records was formed. The company's intended market from the beginning was the United States. Grashey would run the business as President, the A&R Department and the publishing company Trilite Music. Grashey would run the business as he saw fit, sign the acts he wanted to sign and record and promote them without interference from any of the other shareholders. He had check-signing privileges for the company bank account to prevent any recurrence of the fiasco of Jury Records. Williams served as vice-president. Agnes Mackie took over as general manager of the label in May 1960. Under the direction of

, Zero Records produced and recorded singers like

Loretta Lynn Loretta Lynn (; April 14, 1932 – October 4, 2022) was an American country music singer and songwriter. In a career spanning six decades, Lynn released multiple gold albums. She had numerous hits such as " You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My M ...

Lucille Starr Lucille Marie Raymonde Savoie (May 13, 1938September 4, 2020), known professionally as Lucille Starr, was a Canadian singer, songwriter, and yodeler originally from Saint Boniface, Manitoba. She was best known for her 1964 hit single, "The Frenc ...

Myrna Lorrie Myrna Lorrie (born Myrna Lorraine Petrunka, August 6, 1940, Cloud Bay, Ontario) is a Canadian country singer/songwriter/musician. She is known as the "first lady of Canadian country music." Lorrie first sang publicly at age 11 on Fort William rad ...

, and Buddy De Val. Regarding Loretta Lynn, it was on live TV over KTNT in Tacoma Washington that Vancouver businessman Norm Burley then and there decided to record and released a local talent featured, the housewife-turned singer named Loretta Lynn her first single on Zero Records entitled, "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl," in February 1960, which was recorded in Los Angeles along with three other sides. The record was largely marketed by Lynn the hard way, driving in her personal vehicle and dropping in on radio stations unannounced. Unorthodox at the time, the marketing effort worked, and the record eventually achieved the position of #14 on the country singles chart. Lynn's contract was shortly purchased from Zero by

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. Distribution of Zero was managed by

Sparton Records Sparton Records was a Canadian record company which was based in London, Ontario. History Sparton Records was founded in 1930 by the American electronics company Sparks-Withington Corp., of Jackson, Michigan, which made Sparton radios. It manu ...

. Although a Canadian company, the records were manufactured and warehoused in the United States. When Zero records closed, Grashey and Williams founded the DMG Sound Studio.

Artists

*Carroll Baker *Buddy De Val *Loretta Lynn *Gene Mack *Orella Meyers *Bob Regan *Brad Reynolds *Lucille Starr *Myrna Lorrie

References

;Citations {{reflist Canadian independent record labels Recording studios in Canada Companies based in Vancouver Music of Vancouver Record labels established in 1959 Defunct record labels