Jerry Blaine (December 31, 1910 – March 14, 1973) was a bandleader, co-founder of Jubilee Records, record distributor, and singer who recorded 18 sides for the Master and Bluebird labels from 1937 to 1938.

Jerry Blaine
BornDecember 31, 1910
DiedMarch 14, 1973 (age 63)
Occupation(s)Record producer
Singer
Known forFounding partner of Jubilee Records

Biography

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He was born to a Jewish family[1] in Allenwood, New Jersey on December 31, 1910. In May 1946, Herb Abramson founded Jubilee Records with Jerry Blaine as his business partner. In September 1947, Abramson had Blaine buy him out and Blaine became the sole proprietor of Jubilee. Jubilee's first hit record was in 1948 with the Orioles' song "It's Too Soon To Know" (# 1 R&B, # 14 pop). The song was originally issued on Blaine's It's a Natural label. The label also released risque comedy records and Kermit Schafer's blooper recordings.

Blaine's largest money maker was his record distribution company, Cosnat Distributing.

During Alan Freed's payola trial of February 4, 1960, Blaine was implicated in paying to have his music played on the radio.

Jubilee was sold to Viewlex in 1970 and Blaine left the company. He agreed to serve as a consultant to Viewlex for a year.[2]

The master tapes were eventually sold to Roulette Records. Morris Levy sold Roulette to Rhino Records in the late 1980s.

Jerry Blaine died from a heart attack in 1973[3] in Nassau, New York.

Jerry Blaine Orchestra in 1937

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  • Carl Frederick Tandberg, bass
  • George Schmidt, trumpet
  • Buddy Pottle, trumpet
  • Fred Train, trumpet
  • Nat Lobovsky, trombone
  • Tony Antonelli, saxophone
  • Abe Markowitz, saxophone
  • Harry Roberts, saxophone
  • Irving Broucke, saxophone
  • Jack Matthias, piano
  • Joel Livingston, guitar
  • Eddie Ross, drums
  • Phyllis Kenny, vocals
  • Johnny McKeever, vocals
  • Jerry Blaine, vocals

References

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  • John A. Jackson's; Big Beat Heat: Alan Freed and the Early Years of Rock & Roll (1991)
  1. ^ Thompson, David (September 1, 2002). The Music Lover's Guide to Record Collecting. Backbeat. ISBN 9781617744921. In 1946, Abramson and Jewish comedy producer Jerry Blaine launched Jubilee Records
  2. ^ "Blaine Exits as Jubilee Chief". Billboard magazine. June 20, 1970. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  3. ^ Nick Talevski (2010-04-07). "Jerry Blaine". Knocking on Heaven's Door: Rock Obituaries. ISBN 9780857121172. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
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