(label) was operated by Ray Bourbon from 1937 to at least 1942 at Post Office Box 2964, Hollywood, California: per The Billboard, 10 January 1942, page 24. It appears to be unrelated to Lew Chudd’s later label of similar name.

(label) was of the most important of the early post-war independent labels. IMPERIAL RECORDS of Hollywood, California was founded by Lewis R. (Lew) Chudd during January of 1946. Chudd had previously worked with NBC and had also held a post with the Office of War Information. In late 1945, with a stake of $10,000.00, Lew Chudd decided to begin his own record company. Before IMPERIAL, only six titles penetrated the Top-Ten juke box Rhythm and Blues Hits recorded by independent R. & B. labels. Of the six titles, two were for the HIT label and four were for California-based labels EXCLUSIVE, GILT EDGE, JUKE BOX and ALADDIN. Lew Chudd began IMPERIAL’s #5000 Rhythm & Blues series in the (northern) fall of 1947. The BILLBOARD Encyclopaedia of Music: 1947-1948, published on 1 October 1947, contains a two-page advertisement for IMPERIAL, with a small section referring to the first #5000 series releases: “Boogie Woogie Stars” – Dick Lewis, Tucker Wilson, and Poison Gardner. The first four releases were by Dick Lewis and the next six by Poison Gardner. Tucker Wilson was the pianist featured with Lewis. The first period of the IMPERIAL 5000 series begins in August of 1947 and runs through the recording strike of 1948 and concludes in November of 1949. The first release, 5001, appeared with the stars (five stars) on the label located above the IMPERIAL name and with the word “Boogie” spelled “Boogey”, instead of the word “Blues”. The most unusual of the early entries from a discographical stand-point are the Elder Charles Beck gospel sides purchased from EAGLE and the Silvertone Gospel Singers purchased from RADIO ARTISTS. IMPERIAL’s address for the label of issue #5109 was: “137-139 North Western Avenue, Los Angeles”. By issue #5148 (in 1951) the address shown was: “6425 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 28, Calif.” No street address was shown for issues from at least #5176 to #5308, but for issues #5321 and 5322 (in 1954) the address was the same as for issue #5148. Its telephone number as at #5321 was (213) HO 9-2135. Its President was Lew Chudd, and its A. & R. men included: Dave Bartholomew, and Eddy Ray. Founded in 1947 by Chudd at Los Angeles, it was sold to Liberty in 1962. Chudd died in 1998. Subsidiary labels: Bayou; Colony; Knight; Post. The second, more successful, phase of the label revolves around the success of New Orleans session bands. New Orleans was discovered as a source of commercial blues recordings in January of 1947 by the Braun brothers for their DE LUXE label. With the beginning of the Braun brothers’ REGAL label in the summer of 1949, New Orleans took on new meaning. Larry Darnell was recorded by REGAL in September of 1949, and by early November, Darnell’s first two recordings were on the BILLBOARD R.& B. charts. IMPERIAL moved into the New Orleans scene on 29 November 1949, when sides by Tommy Ridgley and Jewel King were recorded. On 10 December 1949, the second New Orleans IMPERIAL session was held at Cosimo Matassa’s J. & M. Studio. This time Antoine “Fats” Domino was recorded. The two New Orleans sessions produced three single issues, #5054, 5055, & 5058, which were all released during December. The King and Domino sides both entered BILLBOARD’s R & B hit list in the spring. The key to IMPERIAL’s success was quite simple. First, it focused on musical styles which were not promoted by major record labels. Hence the early Latin and Ethnic recordings for IMPERIAL. Secondly, quick response to trends was a characteristic of IMPERIAL Records. 1950 was a very successful year for IMPERIAL Records. Jewel King was rushed back into the studio for a second session in January. The King session was followed by the signing of a number of new artists. Country Jim (James Bledsoe) was recorded at New Orleans in January and again in April. Prophet B. W. West of Los Angeles was also recorded in January and Archibald (Leon Gross) was recorded at New Orleans in March and September. These three artists had not previously recorded. IMPERIAL also recruited Dave Bartholomew and Smiley Lewis who had recorded for DE LUXE beginning in August / September of 1947. Six artists who had also been previously recorded were to join the 1950 IMPERIAL ranks. Cecil Gant (formerly GILT-EDGE, 4 Star, KING, BULLET, DOWN BEAT) was recorded in February. T-Bone Walker (formerly COLUMBIA, CAPITOL, RHUMBOOGIE, MERCURY, BLACK & WHITE / COMET and for a second time, CAPITOL) was signed in April and was recorded again in the fall. Joe Turner (formerly VOCALION, DECCA, M – G – M, ALADDIN, MODERN, DOWN BEAT, EXCELSIOR and FREEDOM) was recorded in April. With profits mounting, IMPERIAL expanded again in the fall by signing a few unknown artists plus Lil’ Son Jackson, Mercy Dee, and Smokey Hogg. By the end of 1950, IMPERIAL was an established force in the world of blues and R. & B. Despite the rumors initiated by IMPERIAL in later years that the Domino recording of The Fat Man had sold a million copies, the truth is that the legendary title probably only sold in the area of 100,000 copies in its first year. Yet, IMPERIAL, with its impressive roster of artists, was well on its way to becoming one of the largest record companies in the world by the late 1950’s. IMPERIAL #5245 and 5246 were issued by 15 August 1953. By 1957, IMPERIAL was able to gross $7.5 million. In 1978 Jeff Wald formed a company of the same name by agreement with United Artists’ president, Artie Mogull, to be distributed by United Artists which owned the original label by then.
IMPERIAL label featured: Faye Adams (#5443); Dorothy Akers (#5271); Jesse Allen (#5256, 5285, 5303, 5315); Alpha Omega Singers (#5242); Ernie Andrews (#5132, 5140); Archibald (#5068, 5082, 5101, 5212); Irving Ashby (#5426, 5445); Frank Assunto (no blues interest: #5157, 5174, 5205, 5221); Cesta Ayres (#5255); Pee Wee Barnum (#5097, 5098); Barons (#5343, 5359, 5370, 5383, 5397); Dave Bartholomew (#5064, 5069, 5089, 5096, 5210, 5249, 5273, 5308, 5322, 5350, 5373, 5390, 5408, 5438); Elder Charles Beck (#5040, 5041); Bees (#5314, 5320); Little Billy Big (#); Blazer Boy (#5199, 5244); Jay Blue; Bee Booker (#5222, 5293); Boo Breeding (#5336); Roy Brown (#5422, 5427, 5439); Bruno Sisters (#5364); Chuck Carbo (#5376); Goree Carter (#5152); Cat Man Band (#5222); Cliston Chanier (sic: alias Clifton Chenier: #5352); Gloria Bell Coleman (LP # ); Dave Collins (#5294); Lord Colquitt (#5017); Lord Colquitt’s Choir (#5020); Ken Copeland (#5432); Country Jim (#5062, 5073, 5091, 5095); James Crawford (#5424, 5441); Pee Wee Crayton (#5288, 5297, 5321, 5338, 5345, 5353); Charlie “Boogie Woogie” Davis (#5011, 5013, 5016, 5019, 5021, 5024, 5026, 5029, 5033, 5038, 5051); Ethel Davenport (#5133, 5142, 5149, 5178); Wild Bill Davis (#5399, 5420); James Delaney (see Monte Easter); Fats Domino (#5058, 5065, 5077, 5085, 5099, 5114, 5123, 5138, 5145, 5167, 5180, 5197, 5209, 5220, 5231, 5240, 5251, 5262, 5272, 5283, 5301, 5313, 5323, 5340, 5348, 5357, 5369, 5375, 5386, 5396, 5407, 5417, 5428, 5442); Dukes (#5401, 5415); Monte Easter (#5122, 5128, 5135, 5155, 5168); J. D. Edwards (#5245); Herb Fisher (#5172, 5182, 5226, 5246); Four Bars (#5136, 5154); Ernie Freeman (#5381, 5391, 5403, 5419, 5430, 5444); Johnny Fuller (#5365, 5382, 5395, 5413); Cecil Gant (#5066, 5112); Poison Gardner (#5005, 5006, 5007, 5008, 5009, 5010, 5012, 5014, 5023, 5027, 5030); Erroll Garner (no interest: #5059, 5070, 5078); Little Willie Gibson (#5227); Gene Gilmore (#5215, 5233); George Girard (#5277); Lloyd Glenn (#5022, 5025, 5031, 5037, 5117, 5129); Gospel Angels (#5107); Vivianne Greene (#5385); Dan Grissom (#5139); Guitar Slim (Eddie Jones) (#5278, 5310); Rodney Harris (#5083, 5084); Hawks (#5266, 5281, 5292, 5306, 5317, 5332); Duke Henderson (#5109, 5121); Walter Henry & the K.C. Cats (#5042, 5043, 5047, 5048); Smokey Hogg (#5106, 5111, 5269, 5290); Honey Bees (#5400, 5416); Joe Houston (#5183, 5196, 5201, 5213); Lil’ Son Jackson (#5100, 5108, 5113, 5119, 5125, 5131, 5137, 5144, 5156, 5165, 5175, 5192, 5204, 5218, 5229, 5237, 5248, 5259, 5267, 5276, 5286, 5300, 5312, 5319, 5339); Rudy Jackson (#5425); Jewels (#5351, 5362, 5377, 5387); Joe & Ursula (#5371); Bill Johnson (#5148, 5163); Johnson Trio (#5046); Christian Johnson (#5207); Eddie Johnson (#5120, 5126); Eddie Jones (#5134); Little Sonny Jones (#5275, 5287); Junior Jazz at the Auditorium (no interest: #5092); Chris Kenner (#5448); Kidds (#5335); Merle Kilgore (#5379, 5409); Rev. Killens & Congregation (#5191); Jewell King (#5055, 5061, 5076, 5087, 5177); Lloyd Lambert Band (#5225, 5238); Tommy Lampkin (#5361); Dick Lewis (#5001, 5002, 5003, 5004, 5036, 5045); Ray Lewis (#5136, 5154); Smiley Lewis (#5067, 5072, 5102, 5124, 5194, 5208, 5224, 5234, 5241, 5252, 5268, 5279, 5296, 5316, 5325, 5349, 5356, 5372, 5380, 5389, 5404, 5418, 5431); Little Bubber (#5225, 5238); Love Notes (#5254); Nellie Lutcher (#5436); Sidney Maiden (#5189); Fat Man Matthews (#5211, 5235); Howard McGhee (no interest: #5075); Big Jay McNeely (#5115, 5130, 5164, 5169, 5170, 5176, 5186, 5219); Mello-Kings (#5105); Mellow Drops (#5324); Mercy Dee (#5104, 5110, 5118, 5127); Mints (#5432); Bobby Mitchell (see The Toppers); Rose Mitchell (#5243, 5260); Joe Morris (see Joe & Ursula); Johnny Moses (#5329); New Orleans Humming Four (#5200); Manny Nichols (#5162, 5173); Jimmy Nolen (#5363); Chuck Norris (#5044); Charles Norris Trio (#5049); Papa Lightfoot (#5289); Pelicans (#5307); Gene Phillips (#5143); Gloria Jean Pitts (#5406); Playboys (#5134); King Porter (#5015, 5018, 5028, 5032, 5039, 5050, 5052); Ursula Reed (see Joe & Ursula); Tommy Ridgely (#5054, 5074, 5198, 5203, 5214, 5223); Rocking Brothers (#5333, 5341); Sister J. L. Rogers (#5232); Ruth & Al (#5414); Scholars (#5449); Joan Scott (#5328); Scrubs (#5294); Brother Cecil Shaw (#5179, 5185, 5206, 5217, 5242, 5253, 5298); Silverlight Quartet (#5184, 5298); Silvertone Gospel Singers (#5053, 5056); Dorothy Simmons (#5271); Rev. Percy Simpson Jr. (#5263); Smilin’ Joe (#5159, 5187, 5304, 5327); Spiders (#5265, 5280, 5291, 5305, 5318, 5331, 5344, 5354, 5366, 5376, 5393, 5405, 5423); Spotlighters (#5342); Alonzo Stewart (#5158, 5188); Stir Cats (#5148, 5163); Strikes (#5433, 5446); Bill Stubblefield (#5434, 5447); Sugar Boy (see James Crawford); Sunny South Singers (#5034, 5035); Roosevelt Sykes (#5347, 5367); Billy Tate (#5337); Nat Terry (#5150); Blanche Thomas (#5302); Toppers (#5236, 5250, 5270, 5282, 5295, 5326, 5346, 5378, 5392, 5412, 5440); Johnny Torrence (#5230); John Tripp (#5190); Joe Turner (#5090, 5093); Union Spiritual Harmonizers (#5179, 5185, 5206, 5217); Johnny Van (#5437); Charlie Ventura (no interest: #5057, 5060, 5079, 5080); Victorials (#5398); Audrey Walker (#5256); T-Bone Walker (#5071, 5081, 5086, 5094, 5103, 5116, 5147, 5153, 5161, 5171, 5181, 5193, 5202, 5216, 5228, 5239, 5247, 5261, 5264, 5274, 5284, 5299, 5311, 5330, 5384); Mary Wallace (#5168); James Wayne (#5151, 5160, 5166, 5258); Wee Willie Wayne (#5355, 5368); Boogie Bill Webb (#5257); Prophet B. W. West (#5063, 5088); Bernie Williams (#5360); L. C. Williams (#5195); Lew Williams (#5394, 5402, 5411, 5429); Bob Winn (#5410, 5435); Unknown Imperial issues: 5141, 5146, 5334, 5358, 5374, 5388, 5421);

(label) was active around 1930.
(British) IMPERIAL featured: “RADIO RED” (alias Evelyn Thompson: No. 1777).

(female gospel vocal group) hailed from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they were organized by Anna Smallwood in about 1950. They recorded in about May 1955 to produce I WANT TO LIVE (Tuxedo #902) and JUST AS I AM (Tuxedo #912), with Anna Smallwood as lead. They recorded at New York City for SAVOY on 18 March 1958 and on 9 March 1959. Rosie Wallace shared the lead singing with Anna Smallwood, and was featured for MY FATHER’S HOUSE (SAVOY #4097). They then recorded for its subsidiary, Gospel, on 14 April 1960, on 27 September 1961, on 29 November 1961, on 25 July 1962, on 25 September 1963, on 27 January 1965; and on 12 March 1966. Louise Smoke Brown shared the lead with Anna Smallwood for the 1965 session, issued by Gospel LP #MG 3032. Other group members in 1965 were Connie A. Noble, Norma Taylor, Alfreda Williams and possibly Rudeen Collier. Booking Agent in 1967: Mrs. Anna Smallwood, 2246 North 15th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Contrast the IMPERIALS OF WASHINGTON, D. C., a soul music group.
(Gospel News Journal vol. 12)

(presumably a white sacred vocal group) recorded for Word #C 1090. They also recorded at Dallas, Texas for the Aladdin subsidiary, Intro #6003 and 6005, on 9 August 1950. They recorded Intro #6004 on 11 August 1950 at Dallas.

(male religious vocal group) recorded at Savannah, Georgia for Victor #20956 and 21201 on 25 August 1927. The members who recorded were: Benjamin Bryant (tenor voice); Frank Jackson (bass voice); Clarence Robinson (tenor voice); Willie Robinson (tenor voice); and Henry Singleton (baritone voice). The group may be white and therefore of no gospel interest.
BU 27/18

(label) was the name of an Eli Oberstein label active during December 1941.

(sic: label) was active in 1902. E. BERLINER of Montreal, Canada, manufactured IMPROVED BERLIN GRAM-O-PHONE RECORD (sic) #959, performed by The Dinwiddie Colored Quartet, apparently derived from MONARCH RECORD #1725.
IMPROVED BERLIN GRAM-O-PHONE RECORD (sic) featured: The Dinwiddie Colored Quartet (#959); Billy McClain (#1435)

(sic: label) was a subsidiary of A B C PARAMOUNT. Issue #45-277 was issued during 1970.
Impulse! featured: Mel Brown (#45-277; LP #AS-9186); Ray Charles (# ).

(alternate) appears to be a shorthand version of IDEAL MUSIC CO., and is listed above, as if spelled with the initials I.MU.CO.