Cradle of Rhythm and Blues (Record Row TV Documentary)
Please watch this video:
Answer these questions:
1. What, Where, and why was “Record Row”?
Record Row was located on Michigan Ave in Chicago, Illinois. It became a center of inspiration for Black music between the 1950s and 1970s. Moreover, it was the heart of Black entrepreneurship with their black-owned bars, shops, and many record labels. It can be considered a significant opportunity where Black artists could bring awareness to their work.
2. Name the companies on Record Row.
The companies on the record were Chance, King, Brunswick, Vee-Jay, One Dreadful!, Constellation, Chess Records.
3. Name the artists and on what label?
Mckinley Morganfield
Vee-jay
Carl Davis
4. Were certain labels known for certain types of music?
Chess Records was known for blues with an electrical guitar spin; Muddy Waters was the heart of this label.
Vee-Jay labels were known for their strong jazz and gospel mix. Vivian Carter Bracken and her husband, James, recorded and produced many top hits during the 1950s, working with artists like Jimmy Reed and Marion Williams.
5. Compare Record Row to other record company creations in American cities.
Record Row was known for cultivating a space where Black artists could perform during the 1950s and 1970s. Black artists were celebrated and appreciated and Record Row symbolized hope for the black community. Record Row became notorious for its support of the Black community because other record companies did not allow Black artists to play or produce their music. Moreover, Record Row enabled Black entrepreneurship to flourish in the Americas during the recovery of World War II.
