Peacock Records

Peacock Records was an American independent record label founded in Houston, Texas, in 1949 by Don Robey. Robey named the company after the Bronze Peacock, the Houston nightclub he operated. The label emerged from his work managing blues singer Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and became one of the important Texas-based outlets for African American popular and religious music in the postwar era. The company initially concentrated on rhythm and blues and blues recordings, building a roster that included Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Marie Adams, James Booker, Memphis Slim, Little Richard, and Jackie Verdell. Its most commercially prominent early release was Big Mama Thornton’s 1953 recording of “Hound Dog.” The song became a major success for Peacock and was later recorded by Elvis Presley, whose version achieved much wider mainstream exposure. Peacock also explored jazz, issuing work by artists including vocalist Betty Carter and saxophonist Sonny Criss. Robey expanded the business in 1952 by obtaining control of Duke Records, a Memphis label. The two operations were combined commercially as Duke-Peacock Records, creating a broader label group that also came to include Back Beat and Sure Shot. Gospel became a particularly strong part of the enterprise. Peacock and its associated labels released recordings by the Dixie Hummingbirds, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, the Sensational Nightingales, the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, Reverend Cleophus Robinson, the Gospelaires, the Pilgrim Jubilee Singers, the Loving Sisters, and other performers. This gospel catalog gave the company enduring importance in the history of recorded African American religious music. At the end of 1963, the company introduced Song Bird Records as a gospel subsidiary. Inez Andrews was among the artists associated with the imprint. During the later 1960s, Peacock also returned to secular soul singles, releasing material by Jackie Verdell, the Inspirations, Little Frankie Lee, Al “TNT” Bragg, and Bud Harper. Some of these later singles, recognizable by their colorful peacock-tail label design, subsequently attracted interest from Northern soul collectors. The Duke-Peacock group was sold to ABC Dunhill Records in Los Angeles on May 23, 1973. Don Robey remained with ABC as a consultant until his death in 1975. In 1974 the main label identity was changed to ABC/Peacock. Following ABC’s sale to MCA Records in 1979, MCA briefly operated an MCA/Songbird imprint with new signings, while the earlier ABC-Peacock and ABC-Songbird rosters were discontinued. MCA later reissued selected Peacock and Song Bird albums at budget prices and revived the Peacock name in the late 1990s for the Peacock Gospel Classics compact-disc reissue series. The historical masters associated with Peacock and Song Bird are now controlled through Geffen Records within Universal Music Group’s catalog operations.

Peacock Records was established in Houston in 1949 by Don Robey, a nightclub operator and music manager. Its name came from Robey’s Bronze Peacock nightclub. Before founding the label, Robey had managed blues singer Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown for approximately two years. Brown had not found substantial commercial success with Aladdin Records, and Robey’s decision to create his own label provided a new business vehicle for recording and promoting him. The label’s early identity was rooted in blues and rhythm and blues. Its roster expanded to include Marie Adams, James Booker, Memphis Slim, Little Richard, and Jackie Verdell, alongside Brown. Peacock’s defining early commercial moment came in 1953, when Big Mama Thornton recorded “Hound Dog” for the label. The record became a major rhythm-and-blues hit. Elvis Presley later recorded a highly successful version, bringing the composition to a much larger pop audience while leaving Thornton’s Peacock recording an important part of the song’s recorded history. Robey broadened Peacock’s business in 1952 by gaining control of Duke Records, a Memphis-based label. The resulting Duke-Peacock operation became a significant independent label group. Its associated imprints included Back Beat and Sure Shot. Although Peacock released some jazz, including albums by Betty Carter and Sonny Criss, gospel was its most durable area of specialization. The gospel division issued recordings by numerous influential groups and soloists, including the Dixie Hummingbirds, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, the Sensational Nightingales, the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, Reverend Cleophus Robinson, the Gospelaires, the Pilgrim Jubilee Singers, and the Loving Sisters. The company also released work by Together, a gospel-jazz group that included saxophonist Felix “Top Cat” Dixon. Through these recordings, Peacock documented and commercially supported major strands of postwar African American church music. At the end of 1963, Peacock created Song Bird Records as a gospel subsidiary. Inez Andrews was among the artists featured on the imprint. During the later 1960s, the company again issued secular soul singles, including releases by Jackie Verdell, the Inspirations, Little Frankie Lee, Al “TNT” Bragg, and Bud Harper. The later Peacock singles used a distinctive blue label design with a brightly colored peacock tail. Decades later, this material became sought after by Northern soul collectors. The Duke-Peacock family of labels was sold to ABC Dunhill Records of Los Angeles on May 23, 1973. Robey remained involved as an ABC consultant until his death in 1975. In 1974, the Peacock name was changed to ABC/Peacock. After ABC was sold to MCA Records in 1979, MCA briefly operated an MCA/Songbird label with new signings, but the earlier ABC-Peacock and ABC-Songbird rosters were dropped. MCA subsequently reissued selected Peacock and Song Bird albums at budget prices and revived the Peacock name in the late 1990s for Peacock Gospel Classics compact-disc reissues. The associated masters are now controlled through Geffen Records, part of Universal Music Group’s recorded-music operations.

• 1990

  Peacock Gospel Classics reissues appear

  [1]Peacock Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  MCA revives the Peacock name for a series of gospel catalog compact-disc reissues in the late 1990s.

• 1979

  ABC is sold to MCA

  [1]Peacock Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  MCA acquires ABC and later manages selected Peacock and Song Bird catalog reissues.

• 1974

  The label is renamed ABC/Peacock

  [1]Peacock Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Peacock label identity changes following the ABC Dunhill acquisition.

• 1973

  Duke-Peacock is sold to ABC Dunhill

  [1]Peacock Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  ABC Dunhill acquires the Duke-Peacock family, including Back Beat and Sure Shot.

• 1963

  Song Bird Records is launched

  [1]Peacock Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Peacock introduces Song Bird as a gospel subsidiary near the end of the year.

• 1953

  Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog” becomes a hit

  [1]Peacock Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Thornton’s Peacock recording becomes one of the label’s best-known commercial successes.

• 1952

  Duke Records joins the business

  [1]Peacock Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Robey gains control of Duke Records, creating the broader Duke-Peacock label operation.

• 1949

  Peacock Records is founded

  [1]Peacock Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Don Robey establishes Peacock Records in Houston, Texas, naming the label after his Bronze Peacock nightclub.

A historically important independent label centered on gospel and rhythm and blues, with additional activity in blues, soul, and jazz.

• Gospel music

  Peacock gospel recordings

  Peacock’s gospel division was one of the label’s most important long-term activities. It released recordings by groups and performers such as the Dixie Hummingbirds, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, the Sensational Nightingales, the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, Reverend Cleophus Robinson, the Gospelaires, the Pilgrim Jubilee Singers, and the Loving Sisters. The catalog spans ensemble gospel, solo ministry recordings, and gospel-jazz material.

• Rhythm and blues · 1949

  Rhythm and blues singles

  The label’s early secular catalog focused on blues and rhythm and blues performers. Artists associated with Peacock included Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Marie Adams, James Booker, Memphis Slim, Little Richard, and Jackie Verdell. Big Mama Thornton’s 1953 recording of “Hound Dog” became the label’s most historically prominent R&B release.

• Soul music · 1960

  Peacock soul singles

  In the later 1960s, Peacock resumed issuing secular soul singles. Releases associated with this phase included recordings by Jackie Verdell, the Inspirations, Little Frankie Lee, Al “TNT” Bragg, and Bud Harper. The visually distinctive later Peacock label design and the collector interest in its singles have helped preserve this part of the catalog.

• Jazz

  Peacock jazz albums

  Although gospel and rhythm and blues were central to Peacock’s identity, the label also entered the jazz market. Its releases included albums by vocalist Betty Carter and saxophonist Sonny Criss, demonstrating the company’s willingness to operate beyond its principal gospel and R&B audience.

• Catalog reissues · 1990

  Peacock Gospel Classics

  MCA revived the Peacock name in the late 1990s for a series of compact-disc reissues marketed as Peacock Gospel Classics. The series drew on the historical gospel catalog after the original label operations had ceased and formed part of the broader preservation and commercial exploitation of the Peacock and Song Bird masters.

• 1979

  Transition the catalog after ABC’s sale to MCAStrategy

  Background

  The sale of ABC to MCA changed the corporate ownership and operating structure surrounding the Peacock catalog.

  Action taken

  MCA discontinued the previous ABC-Peacock and ABC-Songbird rosters, while briefly operating MCA/Songbird with new signings and later reissuing selected older material.

  Aftermath

  The Peacock name was later used for gospel reissues, and the associated masters ultimately entered Universal Music Group’s catalog through Geffen Records.

  Source

• 1973

  Sell the Duke-Peacock label family to ABC DunhillM&A

  Background

  After more than two decades of independent operation, Robey’s label group entered a larger corporate recorded-music structure.

  Action taken

  ABC Dunhill Records acquired the Duke-Peacock family, including Back Beat and Sure Shot.

  Aftermath

  Robey continued as an ABC consultant until his death in 1975, and the Peacock name was changed to ABC/Peacock in 1974.

  Source

• 1963

  Create Song Bird as a gospel subsidiaryStrategy

  Background

  Gospel was a major part of Peacock’s business and artist network.

  Action taken

  The company launched Song Bird Records near the end of 1963 to operate as a dedicated gospel imprint.

  Aftermath

  Song Bird became part of the catalog later transferred through ABC and MCA, with selected material subsequently reissued.

  Source

• 1952

  Expand through control of Duke RecordsM&A

  Background

  Peacock was developing beyond its original Houston base and needed a broader label structure and artist roster.

  Action taken

  Don Robey gained control of Memphis-based Duke Records and operated the labels together as Duke-Peacock Records.

  Aftermath

  The combined group became a larger independent operation and later included the Back Beat and Sure Shot imprints.

  Source

1. 1Peacock Recordsen.wikipedia.org