page_title: Vee-Jay Records
hierarchical_section_title: Vee-Jay Records
caption_attribution_description: Label of a Vee-Jay Record by Jimmy Reed
context_page_description: Vee-Jay Records is an American record label founded in the 1950s, located in Chicago and specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll.
  The label was founded in Gary, Indiana in 1953 by Vivian Carter and James C. Bracken, a husband-and-wife team who used their initials for the label's name. Vivian's brother, Calvin Carter, was the label's A&R man. Ewart Abner, formerly of Chance Records, joined the label in 1955, first as manager, then as vice president, and ultimately as president. One of the earliest African American-owned record companies, Vee-Jay quickly became a major R&B label, with the first song recorded making it to the top ten on the national R&B charts.
context_section_description: Vee-Jay Records is an American record label founded in the 1950s, located in Chicago and specializing in blues, jazz, rhythm and blues and rock and roll.
  The label was founded in Gary, Indiana in 1953 by Vivian Carter and James C. Bracken, a husband-and-wife team who used their initials for the label's name. Vivian's brother, Calvin Carter, was the label's A&R man. Ewart Abner, formerly of Chance Records, joined the label in 1955, first as manager, then as vice president, and ultimately as president.  One of the earliest African American-owned record companies, Vee-Jay quickly became a major R&B label, with the first song recorded making it to the top ten on the national R&B charts.
caption: Single by Jimmy Reed, 1956
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