Jewel Records (Shreveport record label)

Jewel Records
Founded1963 (1963)
FounderStan Lewis
Defunct1999 (1999)[1]
StatusDefunct
GenreBlues, Pop, Country, R&B, Gospel[2]
Country of originU.S.A.
LocationShreveport, Louisiana

Jewel Records was an American independent record label, founded in 1963 by Stan Lewis (July 5, 1927 – July 15, 2018[3]) and based in Shreveport, Louisiana.

It had two subsidiary labels, Paula (established in 1965 and named after Lewis's wife Pauline[1]) and Ronn (established in 1967).

Overview

The first of many retail record stores, called Stan's Record Shop, was opened in 1948 in Shreveport. The store expanded, and Lewis built connections with record label owners who were dropping by at his store. By mid 1950s, Lewis began to record artists.[2]

Leonard Chess of Chess Records was a friend of Lewis's, and it was him who persuaded Lewis to start his own record label.[2] In the early days of label, its LPs were manufactured by Chess Records.[2]

Lewis started the label in 1963, and named it Jewel after seeing a flourishing supermarket in Chicago named Jewel Tea Company.[2]

Later, Stan Lewis purchased and reissued the catalogues of Cobra Records, Chief Records, USA Records and JOB Records.[4]

At one time, Jewel (along with Ronn and Paula) was a division of Shreveport-based Sue Records[5] (unrelated to the New York–based Sue Records).

In 1999, Lewis sold the rights for master recordings of Jewel and its subsidiary labels to EMusic.com.[1] Fuel 2000 subsequently purchased the rights, and owned and managed the Jewel/Paula/Ronn catalogues.[2] The private IP holding company, 43 North Broadway, LLC., purchased the Jewel/Paula/Ronn catalogues through its acquisition of Fuel 2000 in 2015.[6]

Artists

The artists who recorded for and/or released records from Jewel (or Paula, Ronn) include Billy Joe Young with " I've Got You on My Mind Again" on Paula 240. An ad by Paula Records in the23 July 1966 issue of Record World had it as one of the hot new ones to watch.[7] Also that week, his single was a Top Play record at WWIN.[8] A single by Billy Joe and His Confidentials, "Got You on My Mind" bw "Feeling Blue" was released on B-J 45-64 at some stage in 1965.[9][10] It has been speculated that Billy Joe Ash is the same singer as Billy Joe Young who recorded for the Paula and Jewel record labels.[11]

The Bad Boys had their song "Black Olives", released on Paula 254. It made the Record World national R&B chart, peaking at no. 28 on 28 January 1967.[12][13]

Others artists were, Buster Benton, Frank Frost, Lowell Fulson, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, John Fred and his Playboy Band, Toussaint McCall, The Uniques, Jerry McCain, Memphis Slim, Little Johnny Taylor, and Justin Wilson.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Stan Lewis". Louisiana Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "The Jewel/Paula/Ronn Story". Bsnpubs.com. November 8, 2006. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  3. ^ Matt Parker (July 16, 2018). "Local Legend Stan 'The Record Man' Lewis Has Died". 710KEEL.com. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  4. ^ Robert L. Campbell and Robert Pruter (April 12, 2020). "Cobra". Robert Campbell's Home Page at Clemson University. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  5. ^ "Record Label : Dazie Mae : John Lee Hooker". 45-sleeves.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  6. ^ "Fuel Records Group". 43 North. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  7. ^ Record World, July 23, 1966 - Page 14 HOT NEW ONES TO WATCH, OT NEW ONES TO WATCH, "I'VE GOT YOU ON MY MIND AGAIN", Billy Joe Young Paula 240
  8. ^ Record World, July 23, 1966 - Page 20 R&B BEAT WHERE IT'S AT, By KAL RUDMAN, Percy, Tex Gigantic, WWIN Top Play: Billy Joe Young
  9. ^ 45Cat - Artist: Billy Joe And His Confidentials
  10. ^ Global Dog Productions - 45 Discography for Paula Records, 240 Billy Joe Young I've Got You On My Mind Again, Standing At The Edge Of Paradise 1966
  11. ^ Sir Shambling's Deep Soul Heaven - Billy Joe Young
  12. ^ Record World, January 28, 1967 - Page 30 TOP 50 R&B, 28. Black Olives, Bad Boys-Paula 254, 32
  13. ^ Record World, February 4, 1967 - Page 37 TOP 50 R&B, 34. Black Olives, Bad Boys-Paula 254, 28


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