Roots of Hoyt Axton

Vee-Jay Records is an American record label founded in the 1950s, located in Chicago which releases blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll music. The label was founded in Gary, Indiana, in 1953 by Vivian Carter and James C. Bracken, a husband-and-wife team who used their initials for the label's name. Vivian's brother, Calvin Carter, ran the label's A&R. Ewart Abner, formerly of Chance Records, joined the label in 1955, first as manager, then as vice president, and eventually was president. One of the earliest Black American-owned record companies, Vee-Jay quickly became a major R&B label, with the first song recorded, the Spaniels' "Baby It's You," making it to the top 10 on the national R&B charts.