Conversation so far:
When did Van Gelder begin recording?
He became a full-time recording engineer in 1959.
Did he win any awards during his early career?
CANNOTANSWER.
Who did he work with during his early career?
Alfred Lion, a producer for Blue Note Records.
How did he become interested in music?
his uncle, for whom Rudy was named, had been the drummer for Ted Lewis's band in the mid-1930s.
What else is interesting about his early career?
Within a few years Van Gelder was in demand by many other independent labels based around New York City.

Question: What labels did he work for?
Self-contained rewrite: What labels did Rudy Van Gelder work for?