Chicago Black Record Stores and Its Influence

Tammy Gibson CNW Staff Writer

Black record stores were an important essential and respected element in the community. The record store was a place for both young and old to come together to listen to music, dance, meet artists, and possibly audition to start their careers, and stay current with who, what, and when of Black music artists. Black record stores were a safe haven for Black consumers due to racism. Whiteowned record stores environments were hostile and unwelcoming to the Blacks and refused to sell records made by Black artists.

The Black Chicago sound could be heard on South Michigan Avenue, known as Record Row. Independent record companies stretched for 10 blocks, including One-derful Records and Vee-Jay Records, both Black-owned. Brothers George and Ernie Leaner founded One-derful Records in 1962. One-derful Records’ artists included the Sharpees, Otis Clay and Five Du-Tones. In 1967, One-derful Records was the first company to record the Jackson 5’s “Big Boy.” James Bracken and Vivian Carter founded Vee-Jay Records in 1953, the first Black and female-owned label in the United States, and was the first record company to release recordings by the Beatles. Vee-Jay Records artists included Jerry Butler, The Staple Singers, Gene Chandler (the Duke of Earl), and The Dells.

During the 1960-70s, it’s estimated that 1,000 record stores were Black-owned, mainly in the South. In other regions, it’s estimated less than a hundred record stores were Black-owned. Black record store owners were confronted with discrimination that made it impossible for them to open businesses. They faced difficulties in getting loans and products from distributors.

John Davis, former President of Distribution at Metro Music Corporation, started in the record business in

Metro Music was the first retail store that looked like a destination spot. Davis said most records stores back in the It was one of the first Black record stores to open on the north side of Chicago. Davis, who started as a clerk, said it was a struggle in the beginning because real estate owners did not want to rent space to African Americans. “Carter had to use a White person to get the retail spaces on the north side who acted on his behalf. We also had to hire White people at these locations as a front,” says Davis. Metro Music was the first to bring artists to record stores to sign autographs, including artists such as the Jackson 5 and actor Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, who had a music career. “We brought Hilton-Jacobs to the store to sign autographs and there were 1,000 people that came to see him. We also had Al Green come to the store at the height of his career,” says Davis.

Davis says Chicago is still a hub of great music and artists. “Drill rap is still innovative. Chance the Rapper, being an independent artist, is showing today’s artists they can make most of the dollars themselves instead of giving it away to unethical record companies. Reputa- ble record companies still have a viable role to play with the right people. R. Kelly was a force. We can’t deny he was a genius from the musical standpoint, as well as Kanye. They are musically gifted individuals. They have been instrumental in the success of the careers of several other artists. Chicago is still the mecca for Black music,” says Davis with that Chicago swag.

The purchase of vinyl records has spiked with younger audiences. Receo Gibson, known as “Sage the 64th Wonder,” is a vinyl record enthusiast. Gibson, age 30, has crates of vinyl records and a record player that were given to him by his grandfather. “I prefer vinyl records because of the original quality of the sound. Gibson loves to listen to vinyl records of doo-wop groups. His favorite group is “The Dells” from Harvey, Illinois. But of course. . .

Black record stores played an integral role in the success of Black artists when White record stores had a small catalog of Black music. Over the decades, Black record stores have drastically decreased. Today, there are an estimated 2,000 record stores in the United States. There are only a tiny fraction of Black record stores, and some are struggling despite a resurgence of vinyl records. It is essential to shop and support Black record stores to circulate the Black dollar in the community and preserve the history of what record stores mean to Black culture.

Today they continue to serve an important purpose in the neighborhood .. . *George Daniels has continued to market and promote Black music and Black artists but his store is no longer housed in the Black community. Tammy Gibson is a Black history traveler. Find her on social media @sankofatravelher.