The name Champion Records has been used by at least four record labels.
An early Champion label was produced by Gennett Records (1925–1934) as an inexpensive label that featured country or "hillbilly" artists, as well as popular bands, hot jazz and blues (many of which had been originally released Gennett's main label). Gene Autry recorded for Gennett on the Champion label and it is said that his horse, Champion, was named for the label. In 1935, Decca bought rights to restart the Champion label, using it until about 1937.
Another Champion label was started by Johnny Vincent.
A third Champion label (along with its sister labels Calvert and Cherokee) was started in the mid-1950s by the songwriter and record producer Ted Jarrett, in partnership with Alan and Reynolds Bubis (formerly of the Tennessee & Republic labels). This Nashville, Tennessee-based label released records by Christine Kittrell, Gene Allison, The Fairfield Four, Earl Gaines, Larry Birdsong, Shy Guy Douglas, Jimmy Beck and Charles Walker, amongst others. Beck released a record on Champion entitled "Pipe Dreams" and another, called "Carnival" on the Zil label. Champion was out of business by 1960, and other Jarrett labels such as Valdot, Poncello, Spar and Ref-O-Ree followed. All of these companies were acquired by Bluesland Productions in the mid 1990s.
A fourth label based in the UK was founded by Mel Medalie in 1980, with an emphasis on soul and dance. Champion Records is an independent record label based in London and claims to be one of the oldest record companies with the same management/ownership in music. DJ Paul Oakenfold numbers amongst their former A&R men.
Famous quotes containing the words champion and/or records:
“What a terrible thing has happened to us all! To you there, to us here, to all everywhere. Peace who was becoming bright-eyed, now sits in the shadow of death; her handsome champion has been killed as he walked by her very side. Her gallant boy is dead. What a cruel, foul, and most unnatural murder! We mourn here with you, poor, sad American people.”
—Sean O’Casey (1884–1964)
“The camera relieves us of the burden of memory. It surveys us like God, and it surveys for us. Yet no other god has been so cynical, for the camera records in order to forget.”
—John Berger (b. 1926)