Modern Records

Modern Records was an American record label formed in 1945 in Los Angeles by the Bihari brothers. In the 1960s, Modern Records went bankrupt and ceased operations, but the catalogue went with the management into what became Kent Records. This back catalogue was eventually licensed to the UK label Ace Records in the 1980s and later sold outright during the 1990s. Modern was one of the big R&B labels with artists including Etta James, Joe Houston, Little Richard, and John Lee Hooker. Having started as an R&B label, Modern was later one of the few R&B labels to routinely cover rhythm and blues hits on other labels, apparently in an attempt to broaden their appeal and reach the popular market. Here, they had less success and the company eventually went bankrupt, although the catalogue was maintained under similar management at Kent Records.