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Program for Tuesday, April 2, 2013 (1:00-2:30 pm)

A full-length special on Gotham Records of Philadelphia. Gotham Records was a medium-sized independent label that was founded on jazz and R&B. Big enough and well-enough financed to acquire titles from smaller labels but without the distribution clout, in the end, of King, Savoy, or even Atlantic, which was a later arrival on the scene. Nonetheless, Gotham assembled an interesting catalogue of jazz, R&B, and, especially gospel. Our special will deal with the artists recorded by Gotham, rather than the masters acquired from Miltone or from Joe Von Battle in Detroit.

We’ve done features on Savoy, King and Atlantic. Those labels had rosters better known to us today and in their time. Gotham had great artists and its share of hit records. Just as importantly, it represented a fascinating segment of the music being played in the clubs, theatres and churches of the day and brought to record sounds we we wouldn’t have available to us today had Gotham never existed.

 On the show: 

Jimmy Preston – Earl Bostic – Dorothy Donegan – Tarheel Slim – Sonny Terry – The Dixieaires – Thelma Cooper – Frank Motley – Tiny Grimes – Edna Gallmon Cooke – Harmonizing Four

Listen to the program at FM 93.3 in Hamilton or on CFMU online at cfmu.msumcmaster.ca. The program will be available to stream or as a podcast until April 29th.

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