Mercer Records

Mercer Records was a New York jazz, rhythm and blues label active from 1950-1957. "Mercer Records, a jazz, rhythm and blues label, has been launched in New York by Mercer Ellington, orkster-composer and son of Duke Ellington. The diskery's first release will feature the Duke's new fem vocalist, Chubby Kemp, accompanied by Billy Strayhorn, Johnny Hodges, and other member of Duke's band. The diskery also plans LP diskings for a future date. National distribution will be handled by Bob Weinstock, who also handles New Jazz and Prestige records. All original material waxed my Mercer will be published by the Ellington family's Tempo Music pubbery." - The Billboard August 19th 1950 "Jazz Critic-Composer Leonard Feather, fully recovered from a serious auto accident, has taken over a multiple role in the Duke Ellington organization. Feather takes charge immediately as general manager of Duke's Tempo Music publishing firm, and also of Mercer Records, diskery recently launched by Duke's son, Mercer." - The Billboard September 23rd 1950 "Leonard Feather resigned from the recording directorship of Mercer Records this week." - The Billboard February 16th 1952 "Mercer Records, a jazz disk catalog active a half dozen years ago under the aegis of Mercer, Ellington and Leonard Feather, and reportedly sponsored by Mercer's father, Duke Ellington, has been sold to Coral Records. The catalog includes a number of sides by Al Hibbler, Johnny Hodges and various groups of Ellington sidemen." - The Billboard March 30th 1957