Valley Vue Records

Valley Vue Records was a small independent record label established in Palm Springs, California, in 1983 by Hillery Johnson. Johnson brought substantial music-industry experience to the venture: before founding the label, he had produced artists including Donny Hathaway and had served as a vice-president of Atlantic Records. Valley Vue operated as a boutique label rather than a large multinational music company, releasing and marketing recordings across soul, R&B, funk, jazz, and blues-related styles. The label’s roster and catalogue connected established performers with developing artists. Its associated artists included Jerry Butler, Craig T. Cooper, Klymaxx, the Manhattans, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, and Michael Wycoff. One of the label’s notable projects was Johnny “Guitar” Watson’s Strike on Computers, released in 1987 after Watson had spent approximately three years away from music. Johnson, who admired Watson’s work, encouraged him to return to the studio, helping lead to the album’s creation and release on Valley Vue. Valley Vue also issued or handled projects by artists working in Chicago blues, soul, contemporary R&B, jazz, and adult-oriented popular music. Cicero Blake’s Too Hip to Be Happy appeared on the label in 1988. During the 1990s, Valley Vue manufactured and marketed Lamarr K. Swing’s debut album, titled His Debut Album, with Lonnie Reaves as producer and Johnson as executive producer. The label also released Jerry Butler’s Simply Beautiful in 1994 and reissued Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers’ Bustin’ Loose in the early 1990s. In addition to its own releases, Valley Vue participated in United States distribution. Tad Sisler’s jazz album So Good to Come Home To, which featured Gerald Albright and Terri Lyne Carrington, was distributed by Valley Vue in the United States. The label’s management included Michael Dion, who served as vice-president and general manager. Dion had previously founded the California jazz label ITI Records, giving Valley Vue additional experience in specialist and artist-oriented music operations. The surviving catalogue indicates that Valley Vue’s business model combined original releases, artist development, reissues, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution. Its releases carried a range of catalogue prefixes, including VV, ST, C, D, and V series identifiers. Although the label’s later corporate status and current operations are not clearly documented, its catalogue represents a California independent-label contribution to the circulation of soul, funk, R&B, blues, and jazz recordings from the 1980s through the 1990s.

Valley Vue Records emerged in 1983 as a small independent record label based in Palm Springs, California. It was founded by Hillery Johnson, a producer and music executive whose earlier career included production work with artists such as Donny Hathaway and a vice-presidential role at Atlantic Records. Johnson’s professional background gave the new label access to experienced artists and industry knowledge, while its Palm Springs base distinguished it from the major-label centers traditionally associated with the American recording business. The label developed a catalogue spanning soul, rhythm and blues, funk, blues, jazz, and related popular styles. Its activities were not limited to signing and releasing new recordings. Valley Vue also manufactured and marketed records and distributed selected albums in the United States. This combination was characteristic of an independent label seeking to support projects that might not fit the release priorities of larger companies. A significant early catalogue item was Johnny “Guitar” Watson’s Strike on Computers. Watson had taken an approximately three-year break from music before Johnson, a longtime admirer, encouraged him to return to the studio. The resulting album was released by Valley Vue in 1987. The label subsequently issued projects associated with artists including 101 North, the Manhattans, Craig T. Cooper, and Wayne Boyer. The Manhattans’ Sweet Talk and Craig T. Cooper’s Craig T. Cooper Project were released in 1989, followed by Cooper’s Got-That-Thang and Boyer’s This One’s for Me in 1990. Valley Vue’s catalogue also included work from Chicago blues and soul singer Cicero Blake. His album Too Hip to Be Happy was released by the label in 1988. In the 1990s, the company manufactured and marketed Lamarr K. Swing’s debut project, whose title was His Debut Album. Lonnie Reaves produced the recording, while Johnson was credited as executive producer. These projects illustrate the label’s role in developing or presenting artists alongside its work with established performers. The company also handled catalogue reissues. Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers’ Bustin’ Loose was reissued through Valley Vue in the early 1990s, and Jerry Butler’s Simply Beautiful was released on the label in 1994. In the distribution area, Valley Vue handled the United States distribution of Tad Sisler’s jazz album So Good to Come Home To. That recording featured Gerald Albright and Terri Lyne Carrington, linking the label to a broader contemporary jazz network. Michael Dion served as Valley Vue’s vice-president and general manager. Dion had previously founded the California jazz label ITI Records, adding independent-label and jazz-specialist experience to Valley Vue’s management. Beyond the documented releases and distribution arrangements, information about the label’s later ownership, financial performance, catalogue transfers, or formal cessation of business is limited. The available record therefore supports describing Valley Vue as an historically documented California label active across the 1980s and 1990s, while its present status remains unconfirmed.

• 1994

  Jerry Butler release

  [1]Valley Vue Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Jerry Butler’s Simply Beautiful was released through Valley Vue.

• 1990

  Further releases by Craig T. Cooper and Wayne Boyer

  [1]Valley Vue Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Valley Vue issued Craig T. Cooper’s Got-That-Thang and Wayne Boyer’s This One’s for Me.

• 1990

  Bustin' Loose reissue activity

  [1]Valley Vue Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Valley Vue reissued Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers’ Bustin’ Loose in the early 1990s.

• 1989

  R&B and contemporary catalogue expansion

  [1]Valley Vue Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label released projects by 101 North, the Manhattans, and Craig T. Cooper.

• 1988

  Cicero Blake joins the catalogue

  [1]Valley Vue Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Chicago blues and soul singer Cicero Blake released Too Hip to Be Happy on Valley Vue.

• 1987

  Release of Strike on Computers

  [1]Valley Vue Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Johnny "Guitar" Watson released Strike on Computers through Valley Vue after returning to studio work following an approximately three-year break.

• 1983

  Valley Vue Records is founded

  [1]Valley Vue Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Hillery Johnson founded the independent label in Palm Springs, California.

A boutique California independent label focused on soul, R&B, funk, blues, and jazz-related recordings, with additional activity in reissues, manufacturing, marketing, and United States distribution.

• Album · 1987

  Strike on Computers

  Johnny "Guitar" Watson’s 1987 Valley Vue album, catalogued as VV69 in the label’s release information and also associated with the ST-72943 catalogue number. The project followed Watson’s break from music and was developed after Hillery Johnson encouraged him to return to the studio.

• Album · 1988

  Too Hip to Be Happy

  A 1988 Valley Vue album by Chicago blues and soul singer Cicero Blake. It represents the label’s involvement with blues- and soul-oriented artists beyond its better-known R&B and jazz-associated releases.

• Album · 1989

  Sweet Talk

  The Manhattans’ 1989 album on Valley Vue, part of the label’s late-1980s expansion into established vocal-group and contemporary R&B repertoire. The catalogue entry is identified by the D1-72946 release number.

• Album · 1989

  Craig T. Cooper Project

  Craig T. Cooper’s 1989 Valley Vue project, identified in catalogue listings by the D1-72947 number. It was followed by another Cooper release on the label, Got-That-Thang.

• Album · 1990

  Got-That-Thang

  A Craig T. Cooper album released by Valley Vue in 1990. The catalogue lists it under D1-72992, documenting the label’s continuing relationship with Cooper into the early 1990s.

• Album · 1990

  This One's for Me

  Wayne Boyer’s 1990 Valley Vue release, listed under catalogue number V1-61290. It is one of the label’s documented early-1990s album issues.

• Album

  His Debut Album

  Lamarr K. Swing’s debut album, manufactured and marketed by Valley Vue in the 1990s. Lonnie Reaves produced the project, and Hillery Johnson served as executive producer.

• Album · 1994

  Simply Beautiful

  Jerry Butler’s 1994 album released through Valley Vue. It is among the label’s documented later catalogue items and demonstrates its continued work with established soul performers.

• Album distribution

  So Good to Come Home To

  Tad Sisler’s jazz album, distributed by Valley Vue in the United States. The recording featured Gerald Albright and Terri Lyne Carrington, placing the label in a contemporary jazz distribution role.

1. 1Valley Vue Recordsen.wikipedia.org