Big Bear Records

Big Bear Records was founded by promoter and band manager Jim Simpson in 1968, taking its name from the nickname given to Simpson by Radio 1 DJ John Peel.{{Cite web|url=http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/whats-on/music/jim-simpson-tells-story-behind-6356261|title=Jim Simpson tells the story behind the success of Big Bear Music|last=Young|first=Graham|date=2013-11-29|website=Birminghampost|access-date=2019-03-21}} At the time, Simpson was managing The Locomotive, who had just scored a top 40 hit with "Rudi's in Love".{{Cite book|title=Collins complete UK hit singles 1952-2004|last=Betts|first=Graham|date=2004|publisher=Collins|isbn=0007179316|location=London|oclc=56662962}} After Parlophone, the band's existing label, declined to release the planned follow-up recording "Rudi The Red Nosed Reindeer", Simpson decided to set up his own Big Bear Records label to release the single (with the band renamed Steam Shovel for contractual reasons), with initial distribution from Island Records.{{Cite web|via=YouTube|title=Jim Simpson Life Stories with Des Tong|date=2018-10-08|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=783&v=Nq_jQanIWy8|access-date=2019-03-21}}

During 1968, Simpson established the weekly Henry's Blueshouse club night at The Crown Hotel on Station Street in Birmingham.{{Cite web|url=https://counteract.co/music/legendary-birmingham-music-night-henrys-blueshouse-to-return-after-50-years/|title=Legendary Birmingham music night Henry's Blueshouse to return after 50 years|date=2019-02-07|website=Counteract – News {{!}} Music {{!}} Events {{!}} Food {{!}} Film|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-03-21}} Early members of the club included Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi, who one week approached Simpson to request a support slot at a future gig for their band, then known as Earth.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/vdnnjy/i-gave-sabbath-their-first-gig|title=I Gave Sabbath Their First Gig|last=Rockwell|date=2011-07-29|website=Vice|language=da|access-date=2019-03-21}} Simpson would go on to manage Earth, who soon changed their name to Black Sabbath. Under Simpson's management, they reached number one on the album chart with Paranoid, before leaving him in 1970.{{Cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/music/2019/02/23/legendary-blues-club-is-back-inside-henrys-blueshouse-in-birmingham/|title=Legendary blues club is back: Inside Henry's Blueshouse in Birmingham|last=Large|first=Heather|website=Shropshirestar.com|date=23 February 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-21}}

Following this, Simpson began to focus his attention on recording and touring American bluesmen, under the billing American Blues Legends.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thevinylguide.com/episodes/ep083-black-sabbath-manager-birmingham-legend-jim-big-bear-simpson|title=Ep083: Black Sabbath Manager & Birmingham Legend Jim 'Big Bear' Simpson|website=Vinyl {{!}} Vinyl record podcast {{!}} The Vinyl Guide {{!}} For Record Collectors|date=12 June 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-21}} Featuring musicians including Tommy Tucker, Willie Mabon, Homesick James, Doctor Ross, Snooky Pryor, Cousin Joe, Eddie "Guitar" Burns, Champion Jack Dupree and Eddie "Playboy" Taylor, Big Bear released a total of 21 albums of American blues during the 1970s.{{Cite web|url=https://beta.prx.org/stories/170513|title=Blues Unlimited #294|last=Franz|first=Steve|date=2016-01-27|access-date=2019-03-21}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/label/38721-Big-Bear-Records|title=Big Bear Records|publisher=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2019-03-21}}

The 1980s saw Big Bear Records returning to Simpson's first love, mainstream jazz and swing. Assembling a lineup of leading British jazz musicians including Humphrey Lyttelton, Dick Morrissey, Digby Fairweather, Dave Shepherd and Jim Douglas, Big Bear promoted a live jam session on 12 August 1984 at Birmingham's Cannon Hill Park,{{Cite web|url=http://lance-bebopspokenhere.blogspot.com/2018/11/cd-review-jazz-city-uk-volume-2-jam.html|title=bebop spoken here: CD Review: Jazz City UK Volume 2: The Jam Sessions|date=2018-11-08|website=bebop spoken here|access-date=2019-03-22}} recorded and released on LP as The M&B Jam Session. The success of the event provided the impetus for the first Birmingham International Jazz Festival the following summer, which continues to be organised annually by Big Bear Music every July.{{Cite web|url=http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/birmingham-international-jazz--blues-7435276|title=Diversity is the priceless key to the marvellous Jazz Festival|last=Young|first=Graham|date=2014-07-18|website=Birminghampost|access-date=2019-03-22}} In 1987, Big Bear launched The Jazz Rag magazine, which continues to publish bi-monthly,{{Cite web|url=https://thejazz.directory/directory/directory-listing/|title=The Jazz Rag|website=The Jazz Directory|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-03-22}} as well as The British Jazz Awards.{{Cite book|title=International who's who in music.|date=2000|others=Bootman, Cara., Parrott, Tamsin.|isbn=0948875585|edition= 3rd|oclc=43633779}} The first edition of the awards was marked with a ceremony at Birmingham's Grand Hotel, where the jam session featuring the poll winners was recorded and released as the British Jazz Awards 1987 album.{{Cite web|url=https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2019/01/31/various-jazz-city-uk-volume-2-the-jam-sessions/|title=Various: Jazz City UK Volume 2 – The Jam Sessions {{!}} Jazz Journal|last=Rainey|first=Hugh|date=31 January 2019 |language=en-GB|access-date=2019-03-22}}

Big Bear Records continued to work with prominent names in British jazz into the 1990s, releasing albums by Lady Sings The Blues (fronted by Val Wiseman), Kenny Baker's Dozen, Bruce Adams and Alan Barnes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.europejazz.net/profile/big-bear-music-agency|title=Big Bear Music Agency|date=2016-05-24|website=Europe Jazz Network|language=en|access-date=2019-03-22}}

• List of record labels

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.bigbearmusic.com Big Bear Music Group homepage]
• [http://www.wirz.de/music/bigbear.htm Illustrated Big Bear Records discography]
• [http://www.7tt77.co.uk/BIG_BEAR.html List of 7 inch 45 rpms]

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Category:British record labels

Category:Blues record labels

Category:British jazz record labels