Groove Merchant was an American jazz and R&B record label during the 1970s. It was run by producer
Sonny Lester
Sumner Lester (November 15, 1924 – April 28, 2018), better known as Sonny Lester, was an American Grammy-award-winning music producer from New York City. He started his career as a musician in a big band jazz ensemble before being drafted into ...
and distributed by
Pickwick Records
Pickwick Records was an American record label and British record distributor known for its budget album releases of sound-alike recordings, bargain bin reissues and repackagings under the brands Design, Bravo (later changing its name to Internati ...
. Notable artists included
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea (June 12, 1941 – February 9, 2021) was an American jazz composer, pianist, keyboardist, bandleader, and occasional percussionist. His compositions "Spain", " 500 Miles High", "La Fiesta", "Armando's Rhumba", and ...
,
O'Donel Levy
O'Donel "Butch" Levy (September 20, 1945 – March 14, 2016) was a Rhythm and blues, rhythm & blues, funk and jazz guitarist from Baltimore, Maryland. He was brother of session drummer Stafford Levy.
Levy studied music at the Peabody Institute at ...
,
Buddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor, and bandleader. He is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time.
Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York ...
,
Jimmy McGriff
James Harrell McGriff (April 3, 1936 – May 24, 2008) was an American hard bop and soul-jazz organist and organ trio bandleader.
Biography Early years and influences
Born in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Germantown, Pennsylvania, Uni ...
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles M ...
. Lester would later close Groove Merchant and restructure it as Lester Radio Corporation, or LRC;
TK Records
TK Records was an American independent record label founded by record distributor Henry Stone and Steve Alaimo in 1972. and based in Hialeah, Florida. The record label went bankrupt in 1981.
"TK" was inspired by the initials of sound engineer Te ...
were distributors for a period. Lester still retains the rights to the Groove Merchant/LRC back catalog and independently distributes them on compact disc.
Discography
500 Series
The Groove Merchant 500 Series consisted of 34 albums released between 1971 and 1974.Jazzlists: Groove Merchant Records 500 Series accessed March 26, 2018
2200 Series
The 2200 Series, released in 1972, consisted of five albums which feature previously released and/or unissued material produced by Sonny Lester for various other labels.
3300 Series
The 3300 Series consisted of sixteen albums released between 1973 and 1976.
4000 Series
The 4000 Series, released in 1974–1975, consisted of twelve double LP compilations of previously issued material. accessed March 26, 2018
* GM 4400 Lionel Hampton: ''The Works!'' (material later released as the single LPs: ''Hamp's Big Band Live!'' on Glad-Hamp, and ''Good Vibes'' on 51 West/CBS)
* GM 4401 Carmen McRae: ''Velvet Soul'' (compiles ''
It Takes a Whole Lot of Human Feeling
''It Takes a Whole Lot of Human Feeling'' is an album by American jazz vocalist Carmen McRae recorded in 1973 and released on the Groove Merchant label.Ms. Jazz'')
* GM 4402 Groove Holmes: ''Hunk–a–Funk'' (compiles ''
Night Glider
''Night Glider'' is an album by the American jazz organist Groove Holmes recorded at New York City's Bell Sound Studios in 1973 and released on the Groove Merchant label.
The Cisco Kid
The Cisco Kid is a fictional character found in numerous film, radio, television and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his 1907 short story "The Caballero's Way", published in ''Everybody's Magaz ...
'')
* GM 4405 Various Artists: ''Blues in Concert'' (compiles selections from ''Jimmy McGriff/Junior Parker'', ''
Very Live at Buddy's Place
''Very Live at Buddy's Place'' is a jazz septet album by drummer Buddy Rich recorded in 1974 and released on the Groove Merchant Records label.
Track listing
LP side A
#"Chameleon" (Herbie Hancock) – 4:52
#" Jumpin' at the Woodside" ( Count ...
Very Live at Buddy's Place
''Very Live at Buddy's Place'' is a jazz septet album by drummer Buddy Rich recorded in 1974 and released on the Groove Merchant Records label.
Track listing
LP side A
#"Chameleon" (Herbie Hancock) – 4:52
#" Jumpin' at the Woodside" ( Count ...
'')
* GM 4408 O'Donel Levy: ''Hands of Fire'' (compiles '' Black Velvet'' and ''
Simba
Simba is a fictional character and the protagonist of Disney's ''The Lion King (franchise), The Lion King'' franchise. Introduced in the 1994 film ''The Lion King'', Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation's List of Walt Disney Anim ...
I Want a Country Man
''I Want a Country Man'' is an album by American jazz vocalist Dakota Staton recorded in 1973 and released on the Groove Merchant label.Goodbye Yesterday
''Goodbye Yesterday'' is an album featuring performances by jazz saxophonist Lucky Thompson which was released on the Groove Merchant label.I Offer You
''I Offer You'' is an album featuring performances by jazz saxophonist Lucky Thompson which was released on the Groove Merchant label.