ABSTRACT
The term given by American record companies to recordings by Black performers intended for the Black market, in use from about 1921 until the early 1940s. Generally, these records were placed into a separate, numbered series, just as recordings aimed at various ethnic markets (Jewish, Italian, Irish, etc.) and other specialized markets (such as country music and jazz). Okeh was the first label to use the term in advertising: “All the greatest Race phonograph stars can be heard on Okeh records. … Ask your neighborhood dealer for a complete list of Okeh race records” (Chicago Defender, January 1922). By the end of 1922 Okeh had issued 40 records in the 8000 series, featuring “The World’s Greatest Race Artists on the World’s Greatest Race Records.” The material included blues songs, jazz instrumentals, and male quartet pieces. At first Black Swan and Arto were the only serious competitors to Okeh in the race area. Arto closed down in 1923. Then Paramount initiated a special series in 1923 for its Black talent, the 12000 series. Okeh described its 8000s as “The original race record” while Paramount called its 12000s “the popular race record.” Columbia entered the field and had a hit with Bessie Smith’s first recording, “Down Hearted Blues” (#A3844; 1923), but the company was in financial trouble and had difficulty sustaining its new 14000 race series.
