Kangaroo Records
{{Short description|American record label established in 1958}}
Kangaroo Records was an American record label established in 1958 in Houston, Texas by co-founders Henry Hayes and M.L. Young.{{Cite book |last1=Bradley |first1=Andy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XsvWyg1u0UwC&q=%22kangaroo+records%22+hayes&pg=PA83 |title=House of Hits: The Story of Houston's Gold Star/SugarHill Recording Studios |last2=Wood |first2=Roger |date=March 1, 2010 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=9780292783249 |via=Google Books}} It was an independent label and recorded at Gold Star Studio in Houston.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xAUJAQAAMAAJ&q=%22kangaroo+records%22|title=Down in Houston: Bayou City blues|first1=Charles Roger|last1=Wood|first2=James|last2=Fraher|date=April 1, 2003|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=9780292791596|via=Google Books}}{{Cite book |last1=Bradley |first1=Andy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=22WxDAAAQBAJ&q=%22henry+hayes%22+sax&pg=PA82 |title=House of Hits: The Story of Houston's Gold Star/SugarHill Recording Studios |last2=Wood |first2=Roger |date=April 1, 2010 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=9780292719194 |via=Google Books}} The label debuted the work of musical artists Albert Collins and Joe "Guitar" Hughes, including the 1958 hit "The Freeze". Hayes was also a musician and played the alto sax{{Cite book |last=Rubin |first=Dave |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0amzAiwBmOcC&q=%22kangaroo+records%22+hayes&pg=PA151 |title=Inside the Blues: 1942 to 1982 |date=January 1, 2007 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=9781423416661 |via=Google Books}} and recorded songs with his own band as well as backing other artists.
History
Henry Hayes, Jr. was born in 1923 in Dallas, Texas.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ZNfAQAAQBAJ&q=%22henry+hayes%22+sax&pg=PA371|title=Blues: A Regional Experience|first1=Bob L.|last1=Eagle|first2=Eric S.|last2=LeBlanc|date=May 1, 2013|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313344244|via=Google Books}} He worked as a public school teacher and lived in Houston's Third Ward. He was recorded on singles for various labels. Hayes and his friend Mel "M. L." Young started the Kangaroo Records record label together in spring of 1958.{{cite book |author=Govenar, Alan B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=68Re4trXKqoC&pg=PA223 |title=Texas Blues: The Rise of a Contemporary Sound |date=9 October 2008 |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |isbn=978-1-58544-605-6 |pages=223– |access-date=4 July 2013}}
Hayes had heard about Albert Collins from Joe "Guitar" Hughes. After seeing him perform live, Hayes encouraged Collins to record a single for Kangaroo Records. Collins recorded his debut single, "Freeze", backed with "Collins Shuffle", for the label at Gold Star Studios in the spring of 1958, with Hayes on saxophone.{{cite book|author=Bradley, Andy|title=House of Hits|date=March 2010|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XsvWyg1u0UwC&pg=PA83|access-date=23 June 2013|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=978-0-292-78324-9|pages=83–}} Texas blues bands of this period incorporated a horn section, and Collins later credited Hayes with teaching him how to arrange for horns. Collins' instrumental song "The Freeze" became a hit.
Joe Hughes first recordings were with Kangaroo Records.{{Cite book |last=Jasinski |first=Laurie E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CE8xiT3pV6QC&q=%22kangaroo+records%22+hayes&pg=PT776 |title=Handbook of Texas Music |date=February 22, 2012 |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |isbn=9780876112977 |via=Google Books}}
Hayes was part of music groups known as the Four Kings, Rhythm Kings, and Henry Hayes Orchestra. Hayes influenced other musicians,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E6U7AQAAIAAJ&q=%22henry+hayes%22+sax|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues|first=Colin|last=Larkin|date=April 28, 1998|publisher=Virgin|isbn=9780753502266|via=Google Books}} and founded several record labels over the years.{{Cite book|author1=Charles Roger Wood|author2=James Fraher|title=Down in Houston: Bayou City blues|date=1 April 2003|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=978-0-292-79159-6}}
Discography
- "The Freeze", Albert Collins (1958)
- "Collins Shuffle", Albert Collins (1958){{Cite book |last1=Greensmith |first1=Bill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FPCVCgAAQBAJ&q=%22henry+hayes%22+sax&pg=PA348 |title=Blues Unlimited: Essential Interviews from the Original Blues Magazine |last2=Camarigg |first2=Mark |last3=Rowe |first3=Mike |date=September 30, 2015 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=9780252097508 |via=Google Books}}
- "I Can't Go On This Way"
- "Make Me Dance Little Ant", Joe Hughes{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=La8JAQAAMAAJ&q=%22henry+hayes%22+sax|title=Living Blues|date=April 28, 2003|publisher=Center for the Study of S Southern Culture, The University of Mississippi|via=Google Books}}
- "Two Big Feet" and "Call of the Kangaroo"{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Freeman-Twins-Henry-Hayes-And-His-Orchestra-Two-Big-Feet-Call-Of-The-Kangaroo/release/18661075|title = The Freeman Twins, Henry Hayes and His Orchestra – Two Big Feet / Call of the Kangaroo (Vinyl)| website=Discogs }}
- "It Takes Money",
- "Stop Smackin' That Wax",
- "I Want a Big White Cadillac for Christmas", Joey Carr
- "Rock 'n' Roll Santa", Joey Carr
- Smackin' That Wax: The Kangaroo Records Story, 1959-1964 (1992), compilation{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/045536770|title=Smackin' that wax : the Kangaroo Records story, 1959-1964.|date=June 5, 1992|publisher=Collectables|oclc=045536770 }}
References
External links
- [http://globaldogproductions.info/k/kangaroo.html Kangaroo Records singles numerical listing discography] via Global Dog Productions.