Royal Record Co.

U.S. record company, 1945-1947. The company was launched by African American songwriter Joe Greene (2) in 1945. Dick Stabile served as recording director. Various labels produced featured jazz and rhythm-and-blues, with a few pop releases. The first label produced was Coronet (7), but this name was soon replaced by Gem (7) after Coronet magazine objected to Greene's use of the name. Curiously, several white-owned labels of the same name began operating shortly after Greene withdrew his label (e.g. Coronet (5)). In July, 1945 the Coronet (7) label was replaced by the Gem (7) label. However, that label name was also withdrawn (in March, 1946) after Greene was unable to secure rights to the name. In March 1946, Greene organized Sepia Records, Inc. and introduced the G & G label as a replacement for Gem (7).