AM Records (9)

U.S. record company active between 1944 and 1961. Founded by violinist, jazz collector and historian William Russell, this company produced the American Music label to specialize in traditional jazz, performed largely by aging New Orleans musicians who had little or no prior recording experience. Initial releases were devoted to a group of Bunk Johnson recordings made in New Orleans in July 1944, and were issued in early 1945. These early releases were on 12" vinylite pressings, with limited advertising in jazz-related publications and mail-order distribution. Standard 10" pressings began in 1946 and were distributed through a few specialist shops. Russell stockpiled many of his 1940s recordings for later release, many of which first appeared on LPs. He later licensed the catalog to Dan Records (early 1960s) and Storyville (3) (in 1972). Shortly before his death in 1992, Russell sold his label and catalog to Jazzology Records owner George H. Buck, Jr., who reissued many of the recordings in CD format using a new company American Music Records.