Modern Records

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Modern Records was an American record label formed in 1945 in Los Angeles by the Bihari brothers: Jules, Saul, Lester and Joe Bihari.

In the early fifties they launched several subsidiaries: RPM Records, Flair Records and Meteor Records. They launched more subsidiaries: Crown Records and United/Superior Records. In the sixties they launched a subsidiary Yuletide Records, specialised in Christmas records. In the sixties Modern records went bankrupt, and stopped operating but the catalogue went with the management into what would became Kent Records. This back catalogue was eventually licensed to Ace Records (UK) in the 80s and then later purchased during the 90's.

1 Label's success
2 Unrelated labels
3 See also
4 Notes
5 External links

[edit] Label's success

Modern was one of the big R&B labels with artists like Etta James, Joe Houston, John Lee Hooker, Floyd Dixon, Roy Hawkins, Jimmy McCracklin, Jimmy Witherspoon, Pee Wee Crayton, Smokey Hogg, Lightnin' Hopkins and Driftin' Slim. Groups signed to the label included The Cadets and Marvin and Johnny.

Having started as an R&B label, Modern later was one of the few R&B labels to routinely cover rhythm and blues hits on other labels, apparently in an attemp 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 with Kent Records under similar management.^[1]

[edit] Unrelated labels

There have been other, unrelated, companies using the name Modern" in later times. One of these labels was formed by Fleetwood Mac member Stevie Nicks, Paul Fishkin, and Danny Goldberg for the release of Nicks' solo material. The label was picked up by Atlantic Records. This label is also now defunct, and Nicks' solo material is now released through Reprise Records.^{[citation needed]}