Galaxy

Like its parent company [l=Fantasy], Galaxy was named after a science-fiction magazine. The label led three lives...twice as a jazz label and once as an R&B label. It was launched in 1951 as a vehicle for jazz recordings but ceased activity after a handful of 78-RPM releases by [a=Cal Tjader], Vido Musso, and others.

Galaxy was revived in 1961 to issue two 45s by a gospel group known as the Apollos but then switched its focus to rhythm and blues under the A&R direction of producer [a=Cliff Goldsmith] and arranger [a=Ray Shanklin]. Of the many R&B artists who appeared on Galaxy between 1962 and 1973 including [a=Charles Brown], [a=Bill Coday], [a=Rodger Collins] and [a=Big Mama Thornton]; blues singer [a=Little Johnny Taylor] was the most successful artist as his 1963 recording of "Part Time Love" rose to Number 1 on Billboard's R&B chart.

Galaxy sprang to life again five years later in 1977 as a jazz label with a roster that included [a=Tommy Flanagan], [a=Red Garland], [a=Johnny Griffin], [a=Hank Jones], and [a=Art Pepper]; the label has been dormant outside reissues and [a=Bill Evans] archive material since the mid-Eighties.

For copyright/company credits, see [l=Galaxy Records (15)].

Label Code: LC 1428