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Panel 02 - Migration
Nestled in Cincinnati, between the north and the south; King Records was perfectly positioned to capture the diverse musical palate of post-war America.
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Panel 03 - Syd Nathan
Syd starts a record company. His innovative staffing policies in the 1940's encouraged a racially integrated workforce with African Americans in leadership roles.
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Panel 04 - Queen
In 1945, Syd started a new record label specifically for black music called Queen, as major record companies were neglecting this emerging market.
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Panel 05 - Hillbilly Boogie
In 1946 King began recording a new music genre called Hillbilly Boogie. It would be an important precursor to Rock and Roll.
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Panel 07 - Integration
Perhaps the most important decision Syd made was the hiring of Henry Glover as King's A & R Recording Director.
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Panel 08 - Integration
Blues Stay Away From Me, a mixing of "Hillbilly Music" and "Jump Blues" is regarded by some as to be the first Rock and Roll record.
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Panel 09 - Black White Crossover
"We have built our business primarily in the hillbilly field and in the race field, and in those fields I don't take my hat off to anyone." Syd Nathan, October 1949
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Panel 10 - Outside Influence
King Records artists were a major influence on the first generation of rockers like Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis as well as other world renowned musicians.
