Masters
2006 Hall of Honor Inductees
Syd Nathan
Record shop owner Sydney Nathan founded King Records in Cincinnati during November, 1943. The label soon became identified with top rhythm and blues artists, while also signing artists as diversified as country artists Cowboy Copas, The Delmore Brothers, Merle Travis and Grandpa Jones. The company’s entry into what is now called the bluegrass market came when Bob Osborne and Jimmy Martin teamed briefly in 1951 and recorded four sides that were released on two singles. The signing of Don Reno & Red Smiley in January, 1952, began a hugely successful association that lasted more than 20 years and yielded over 20 LP’s. The Stanley Brothers recorded 186 masters (185 titles) from 1958 – 1965 and Charlie Moore & Bill Napier produced nine LP’s for King Records from 1963 – 1968. Nathan recorded a number of other artists in the bluegrass genre and was aggressive in gaining distribution for them. At the time of his death March 5, 1968, the King vaults had become a major repository of bluegrass master recordings. The label name, along with subsidiary labels Audio Lab, Federal and Deluxe, have been owned by IMG of Nashville for many years.
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