Peerless Records
{{Short description|Record label in Mexico}}
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{{Infobox record label
| name = Peerless Records
| image = PeerlessRecordEarly.jpg
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| caption = Peerless Record Label
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| status = Defunct
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| country = Mexico
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Peerless Records was a record label based in Mexico.
Peerless was founded in 1921 in Mexico City by E. Baptista. Early pressings of their gramophone record were made under contract by Gennett Records. By 1933, Peerless was pressing its own records in Mexico. The Peerless label mostly released popular Mexican music; some popular dance bands and tunes from the United States of America also appeared on Peerless in the 1920s.
Background
In addition to Mexico, Peerless Records were sold in other parts of Latin America and in some communities in the Southwest United States. The labels sometimes have text in both English and Spanish.{{Citation needed|reason=References required|date=April 2025}}
Peerless was considered a "major label" in Mexico during the 1940s and 1950s.{{cite book |last=Ragland |first=Cathy |date=2009 |title=Música Norteña: Mexican Migrants Creating a Nation Between Nations|location=Philadelphia |publisher=Temple University Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/musicanortenamex00ragl/page/n113 97]|isbn=978-1-59213-746-6}} - Limited access.{{Citation needed|reason=Link no good|date=April 2025}}
Peerless issued long-playing vinyl records starting in 1951.The 78 rpm Club - [https://78rpm.club/record-labels/peerless-2/ PEERLESS, 1921 - 2001] During the years, Peerless has been the record label for many well-known artists, such as Vianey Valdez,Cash Box, September 22, 1962 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1962/CB-1962-09-22.pdf Page 47 Cash Box MEXICO] Pedro Infante, Lola Beltran,Arhoolie Foundation - [https://arhoolie.org/discos-peerless-s-a/ Discos Peerless Discography] Los Apson, Los Baby's, and David Záizar. It also secured Mexican distribution for some artists from beyond Mexico, such as Los Corraleros de Majagual, Celia Cruz, Tom Jones and The Rolling Stones. Peerless remained an independent label until 2001, when it merged with its subsidiary MCM (Metro Casa Musical), becoming Peerless-MCM S.A. de C.V., which was later bought by Warner Music Mexico.{{Citation needed|reason=References required|date=April 2025}}
Peerless Records would also have some Azteca Records recordings released in Mexico on its label.Mainspring Press, November 23, 2024 - [https://mainspringpress.org/2024/11/23/records-for-the-mexican-american-market-the-independent-producers-1928-1950/ Records for the Mexican-American Market: The Independent Producers (1928–1950), DISCOS AZTECA]
History
It was reported by The Cash Box in the magazine's 29 April 1961 issue that Peerless had announced new contracts with artists who were already recording for the label. They were Jose Venegas and Betty Melendez. Former Tizoc Records artist, Luis G. Roldan was also a new arrival at Peerless.The Cash Box, April 29, 1961 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1961/CB-1961-04-29.pdf Page 43 MEXICO] At the time, Peerless artist Juan Mendoza was at no. 2 in the Mexico's Best Sellers chart with "Crei" and Lola Beltrán, also with Peerless was at no. 4 in the same chart with "El Caballo Blanco".The Cash Box, April 29, 1961 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1961/CB-1961-04-29.pdf Page 43 Mexico's Best Sellers]
According to the 5 June 1965 issue of Cash Box, Vianey Valdez, La Prieta Linda, Ricard Jimenez would be leaving Peerless Records and signing on with other labels.Cash Box, June 5, 1965 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1965/CB-1965-06-05.pdf Page 58 Cash Box MEXICO]
Further reading
- Arhoolie Foundation - [https://arhoolie.org/discos-peerless-s-a/ Discos Peerless Discography]
- Mainspring Press, November 23, 2024 - [https://mainspringpress.org/2024/11/23/records-for-the-mexican-american-market-the-independent-producers-1928-1950/ Records for the Mexican-American Market: The Independent Producers (1928–1950), DISCOS PEERLESS, S. A.]
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{discogs label|Peerless}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Mexican record labels