Macy's Recordings
Macy's Recordings "Queen of Hits"
Founded1948 (or early 1949) [1][2]
Defunct1951[1]
StatusDefunct
GenreCajun, country, swamp blues, swamp pop
Country of originUnited States
LocationHouston, Texas, United States

Macy's Recordings (Queen of Hits) was a Houston-based record label that released recordings of popular musicians around the southern United States. In April 1949, they famously recorded Lester Williams' song "Winter Time Blues" on their R&B series which became a hit.[3][4] They would go on to record country and Cajun music as well.[5]

History

Steve Poncio, ca.1968

The record label was started by husband and wife, Charles D. Henry and Macy Lela Henry, whom worked alongside supervisor Steve Poncio. Poncio worked as general manager for Macy's in 1946 and then founded United Record Distributing Company in 1949.[6] Macy ran a department store based in Houston, Texas (unrelated to the famous New York department store) and in 1948, they began distributing records for other labels, such as Modern Music, including their back catalog material.[7] and even had an office in Dallas.[8][9] In 1949, they decided to create their own label to sell and distribute from their store. They created the Macy's Record Distribution Company[2] and they used Bill Holford's ACA Studios in Houston to record the music.[3] The place was known for its high quality sound.

Their first recordings released were with Jim Reeves.[5] However, they would make their mark on blues music in 1949 by recording Lester Williams'[10] song "Winter Time Blues" and then in 1950, they would sign and record Clarence Garlow,[11] releasing a version of his song "Bon Ton Rolla".[1] The company would hire other dealers to distribute their music in Nashville, Atlanta and New Orleans.[12]

Bill Holford at ACA Studios, early 1960s

These artists would go on to record other songs for Macy. Macy's didn't fare well in the marketplace despite the quality of their music. They were competing against other Houston brands such as Duke-Peacock, D Records, Starday, Freedom, Sittin' In With and Gold Star.[13] By June 1951, many of their signature artists moved to Modern Records and Aladdin Records ending the Macy's label production. The catalog is currently owned by Fivepin Music based in Toronto.

Artists

Discography

Macys 78s
CatalogArtistA SideB Side
100Woody Carter And His Hoedown BoysSlippin AroundSittin On The Doorstep
101Woody Carter And His Hoedown BoysOnly YouWhos Gonna Chop My Baby's Firewood
102Claudie Ham And His Radio PlayboysMoonlight Texas WaltzI'll Wait A Lifetime For You
103Barney Vardeman And His Drifting TexansLet's Call It QuitsI Love Someone
104Claudie Ham And His Radio PlayboysWe'll Say Goodbye TomorrowThat’s All I'm Through
105Tommy Dover And His Texas Rhythm BoysI Love You BecauseI'll Keep My Memory Of You
106Art Gunn And His Arizona PlayboysCornbread BoogieSt Augustine Waltz
107Dusty PaytonThe Chains Of Love Are BrokenNo Room In My Heart
108Tommy Dover And His Texas Rhythm BoysWeeping WillowBlue Over You
109Smitty Smith And His Lone Star RangersBroken MemoriesA Heart Full Of Blues
110Raley Bros And Woody CarterHoedown BreakdownMedley Of German Waltzes
111Barney Vardeman And His Driftin TexansTill We Meet Again DarlingI'm Finding Me A New Heart
112Bar X CowboysCold Shadows In My HeartFair Weather Friend
113Dickie Jones And His Rhythm RangersI Wish I Knew Do YouNever Again For Me
114Clint Small The Singing Bus DriverThree YearsSomeone Cares
115Jim ReevesMy Hearts Like A Welcome MatTeardrops Of Regret
116Ramblin Tommy ScottTennesseeRosebuds And You
117Laverl Carrico And The Angelina PalsShe Tore Up My PictureToo Many Women Too Much Beer
118Sonny Hall And His MoonshinersI'll Keep My Eyes On Your HeartJust A Little Bit More
119Ray WelchLouisiana BluesCross My Heart
120Smitty Smith And His Lone Star RangersIf Teardrops Were DiamondsYou Sent My Heart To Prison
121Tommy DoverOnly You Hold The KeyI'll Be Moving Along
122Art Gunn And His Arizona PlayboysBoogie Woogie BluesLast Tear
123Curley Rash And His So Texas PlayboysWas It Just A Year AgoThe Battleship Texas
124Harry (Jole Blon) ChoatesGra MamouCatn Around
125Cousin Bob RogersDriftinBlue Yodel No 1
126Biff CollieI Want A Gal To Cook For MeIve Said It Before I'll Say It Again
127Morris Mills And The RithumakersId Like To Slip Around With YouDon’T Play This Record
128Morris Mills And The RithumakersCalendar GirlI Remember Do You
129Bob Greene And His Filling Station SwingSomebody Stole My Rag MopYou Just Don’t Know
130Ramblin Tommy ScottSmoky Mountain SunsetAint What She Used To Be
131Dolores And The Bluebonnet BoysDessau SchottischeOne Woman Man
132Jim ReevesChicken HeartedIve Never Been So Blue
133Dub Poston And His Downtown PlayboysCant You BelieveI Can't Use You Anymore
134Harry ChoatesLouisiana BoogieWhat's The Use
135Yodeling Bob StottsOut Along The Colorado TrailI Guess I Learn A Lot Every Day
136Bill Grady's Dixie CowboysRambling ManI'll Always Get Along
137Ray WelchYou No Longer Carry My NameNo Use To Cry Over You
138Sonny HallIve Been Lost Without YouTexas Waltz
139Paul Brown And His Bar X CowboysWhere Texas Meets The SeaNow You're Mine At Last
140Laverl Carrico And The Angelina PalsI Have Lost My Trust In YouMy Life's Story
141Harry ChoatesKorea Here We ComeDo You Still Love Me
142Morris Mills And The RithumakersSteppin On Feet For FunI Need Some Sunshine
143Cousin Bob RogersLonesome Freight Train BluesCloud Corral
144Vance BrosDraftboard BluesCan't Get You Out Of My Dreams
145Curley Rash And His South Texas PlayboysHumble Road BoogieHave I Held You In My Arms Like This Before
146Art Gunn And His Arizona PlayboysBarn Dance BoogieSleepy Time Out West
147Harry ChoatesIve Quit My Cattin AroundFiddle Polka
148Ramblin Tommy ScottWhen A Man Gets The BluesBeen Gone A Long Time
149Clint Small With The Corral WranglersTexas RagLearn To Be Blue
150Dolores And The Bluebonnet BoysI Don’t CareA Broken Heart
151Morris Mills And The RithumakersOh Baby DoI Try So Hard
152Cousin Bob RodgersSecret LoveTrail In The Sun
153Vance BrosIll Always Call You DarlingYou're Just An Angel
155Tommy Dover And His Texas Rhythm BoysI Can't Get You Out Of My HeartBrakeman's Blues
156Dolores And The Bluebonnet BoysFiesta WaltzPickin
157Dean SmithSweetheart HillSunset Valley
158Harry ChoatesHarry's BluesShe's Sweet Sweet
159Harry ChoatesMy Pretty BrunetteCorpus Christe Waltz
1000Buddy Ryland and OrchestraWild CherryI Ain't Mad At You
1001Macy And Her Ole Time Bar BandShine On Harvest MoonDill Pickle Rag
1002Macy And Her Ole Time Bar BandBoogie Woogie PianoWho's Sorry Now
5000Lester WilliamsI'm So Happy I Could Jump And ShoutWintertime Blues
5001Clarence GarlowShe's So FineBlues As You Like It
5002Clarence GarlowBon Ton RoulaIn A Boogie Mood
5003Smoky HoggYou Gotta GoLeaving You Baby
5004Lester WilliamsAll I Need Is YouI Know That Chick
5005Hubert RobinsonWhere Were You Pretty BabyBoogie The Joint
5006Lester WilliamsDowling Street HopDon't Treat Me So Low Down
5007Hubert RobinsonAnswer To Wintertime BluesOld Woman Boogie
5008Smoky HoggBaby BabyChange Your Ways
5009Lester WilliamsMary LouTexas Town
5010Hubert RobinsonRoom And Board BoogieBad Luck And Trouble
5011Cab Mcmillan And His Fade AwaysI'm Young And AbleThree Woman Blues
5012Clarence GarlowBound To Lose My MindJumpin' For Joy
5013Wilson-Watson SingersOld Ship of ZionThrow Out The Life Line
5014Joe HoustonCornbread And Cabbage GreensPretty Dad-Dee
5015Hubert RobinsonI Love You BabyHigh Class Woman
5016Lester WilliamsHey JackThe Folks Around The Corner

[14] [15]

Compilations

  • Cat N Around (#875512 KrazyKat/Interstate, 1997) [16]
  • Texas Hillbilly: The Best of Macy's Hillbilly Recordings (ACRCD125 Acrobat, 2006)
  • Queen Of Hits: The Macy's Recordings Story (ACRCD228 Acrobat, 2011)[17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "MVD Entertainment Group: Queen Of Hits: The Macy's Recordings Story". Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  2. 1 2 Komara, Edward (2005). The Blues Encyclopedia: 2 Volume Set. Routledge. p. 646. ISBN 978-0415926997.
  3. 1 2 O'Brien, Timothy J (2013). Mojo Hand: The Life and Music of Lightnin' Hopkins (1st ed.). University of Texas Press. p. 62. ISBN 978-0292745155.
  4. ↑ "Handbook of Texas Online: WILLIAMS, LESTER". Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  5. 1 2 "Macy's Texas Hillbilly - The Best of Macy's Hillbilly Recordings". Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  6. ↑ "Monument/Sound Stage 7: Executive Staff". Billboard. December 21, 1968. pp. pM-3 & pM-5.
  7. ↑ Broven, John (2010). Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll Pioneers. University of Illinois Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-0252077272.
  8. ↑ "Coinmen You Know: Houston". The Billboard. 62 (19): 121. May 13, 1950.
  9. ↑ "Coinmen You Know: Houston". The Billboard. 60 (46): 107. November 13, 1948.
  10. ↑ Govenar, Alan B (2008). Texas Blues: The Rise of a Contemporary Sound. Texas A&M University Press. p. 282. ISBN 978-1585446056.
  11. ↑ Wood, Roger (2006). Texas Zydeco. University of Texas Press. p. 103. ISBN 978-0292712584.
  12. ↑ "Texas Disk Firm Names Distribs". The Billboard. 61 (33): 99. August 13, 1949.
  13. ↑ "Big Road Blues Show 5/3/09: Struggle Here In Houston – Houston Blues 1948-1968". Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  14. ↑ "Macy's 5000-series 78rpm numerical listing discography". 78discography.com. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  15. ↑ "Macy's Recordings". Discogs.
  16. ↑ Wolff, Kurt (2000). Country Music: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides. p. 103. ISBN 978-1858285344.
  17. ↑ "Queen of Hits - the Macy's Recordings Story (2003, CD)". Discogs.
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