Race Records and the Early Jazz Record Industry (1917–1932)

1. ODJB records and releases early jazz hit

   Mar 7, 1917Labels: Original Dixieland, Victor Records

   • Guinness
   • Smithsonian
   • Victor 1917

2. Mamie Smith records “Crazy Blues” for Okeh

   Aug 10, 1920Labels: Mamie Smith, Okeh Records

   • Crazy Blues
   • Blues HOF

3. Black Swan Records founded as Black-owned label

   Jan 1, 1921Labels: Black Swan, Harry Pace

   • SFCV
   • Race record

4. “Race records” term enters major-label advertising

   Jan 1, 1922Labels: Okeh Records, Race records

   • Recorded Sound

5. Paramount launches dedicated 12000 “race” series

   Jan 1, 1923Labels: Paramount Records, 12000 series

   • Recorded Sound

6. Bessie Smith records “Down Hearted Blues” for Columbia

   Feb 15, 1923Labels: Bessie Smith, Columbia Records

   • LOC
   • Recorded Sound

7. Black Swan catalog sold to Paramount

   Jan 1, 1924Labels: Black Swan, Paramount Records

   • Race record
   • Recorded Sound

8. Columbia begins regular electrical recording sessions

   Apr 1, 1925Labels: Columbia Records, Electrical recording

   • DAHR
   • Art Gillham

9. Victor publicly launches “Orthophonic” electrical era

   Nov 2, 1925Labels: Victor Records, Orthophonic

   • Victor Co

10. Louis Armstrong begins Hot Five recordings for Okeh

    Nov 12, 1925Labels: Louis Armstrong, Hot Five

    • Hot Five
    • EBSCO

11. RCA acquires Victor, reshaping major-label power

    Jan 1, 1929Labels: RCA, Victor Records

    • Victor Co

12. Great Depression drives record market to 1932 low point

    Jan 1, 1932Labels: Great Depression

    • 1932 music