Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; due to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades.
Decca was noted for its development of recording methods in the United Kingdom and for the development of original cast albums in the United States. Both wings are now part of the Universal Music Group (UMG) which is owned by Vivendi, a media conglomerate headquartered in France. The American Decca label was the foundation label which evolved into (UMG).
In 1934, Jack Kapp established a country & western line for the new Decca label by signing Frank Luther, Sons of the Pioneers, Stuart Hamblen, The Ranch Boys and other popular acts based in both New York and Los Angeles.
Louisiana singer/composer Jimmie Davis began recording for Decca the same year, joined by western vocalists Jimmy Wakely and Roy Rogers in 1940.
From the late 1940s on, the US arm of Decca had a sizable roster of Country artists, including Kitty Wells, Johnny Wright, Ernest Tubb, Webb Pierce, Wilburn Brothers and Red Foley. In the late 1950s, Patsy Cline was signed to Decca label from 4 Star Records. As part of a leasing deal, Patsy's contract was owned by 4 Star; though she recorded for Decca as part of this deal, she recorded an album but saw little money.
In 1960, Cline signed with Decca outright and released two more albums and numerous singles while she was alive and several more albums and singles produced after her untimely death in a 1963 plane crash.
The Wilburn Brothers were ultimately signed to a lifetime contract with Decca. Doyle Wilburn of the Wilburn Brothers obtained a recording contract for Loretta Lynn who signed to Decca in the early 1960s and remained with the label for the next several decades.
Owen Bradley was the Artists and repertoire (A&R) man for all of these artists. Decca quickly became the main rival of RCA Records as the top label for American country music by the early 1950s and remained so for decades.
------------------------------------------------------------Decca Records' Top-14 Recording Artists
- Conway Twitty
- Webb Pierce
- Ernest Tubb
- Lortetta Lynn
- Bill Anderson
- Red Foley
- Kitty Wells
- Wilburn Brothers
- Jack Greene
- Patsy Cline
- Cal Smith
- Brenda Lee
- Jan Howard
- Jimmie Davis
Conway Twitty who is the 4th most successful Twitty recording artist (1944-1993), spend fifteen years with Decca/MCA Records and racked up 54 top-10 singles, including 32 that peaked at No. 1 on Billboard. Twelve of his top-10 singles were duet hits with label mate Loretta Lynn.
Webb Piercewho is the 6th most successful recording artist (1944-1993), spend more than two decades recording for Decca Records (1952-1975). During that period, he charted 54 top-10 Singles with twelve of those reaching the No. 1 chart position on Billboard.
Ernest Tubb, the Texas Trobadour, recorded for Decca Records nearly three decades (1944-1973) and during that time, Ernest racked up 59 top-10 Billboard chart singles, including six that peaked at No. 1. Tubb charted top-10 duet singles with Red Foley, Loretta Lynn and the Wilburn Brothers. Ernest is the 16th most successful recording artist (1944-1993).
Loretta Lynn spend twenty years recording for Decca/MCA Records (1960-1981) ) and during that period, she racked up 77 top-10 Bilboard chart singles, including 16 that peaked at No. 1. Twelve of her top-10 singles were duet hits with label mate Conway Twitty. Loretta is the 17th most successful recording artist (1944-1993).
Bill Anderson - Whispering Bill Anderson recorded for Decca/MCA Records for more then two decades (1858-1981) and during that time, he racked up 36 Billboard top-10 sinles, including 7 that peaked at No. 1. Bill charted top-10 duet singles with Mary Lou Turner and Jan Howard.
Red Foley Recorded for Decca Records for twenty-five years (1944-1969). During his association with Decca Records, Red racked up 58 Billboard chart singles, including ten that that peaked at No. 1. Foley charted top-10 duet singles with Ernest Tubb and Kitty Wells.
Kitty Wells, the Queen of Country Music, spent three decades with Decca Records (1952-1979) and during that period, she scored 35 top-10 Billboard chart singles, including three that peaked at No. 1. Kitty charted four top-10 duet hits with Red Foley.
Wilburn Brothers - The Wilburn Brothers recorded for Decca Records f(1954-1972) for nearly two decaded and in the process, they charted 14 top-10 Billboard chart singles. During their stay with Decca, they recorded duet singles with Ernest Tubb and Webb Pierce.
Jack Greene - Jack began his career as a member of Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubador before embarking on a solo career. He spent 10 years recording for Decca/MCA Records (1965-1975). During that time, Jack scored 9 top-10 Billboard chart singles, including 4 that peaked at No. 1.
Patsy Cline - In 1960, Cline signed with Decca Records and released two albums and numerous singles while she was alive and several more albums and singles produced after her untimely death in1963. She charted 9 Billboard top-10 singles, including 2 that peaked at No. 1
Cal Smith - Cal began his career as a member of Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubador before embarking on a solo career. Smith recorded for Decca/MCA (1967-1979) for a dozen years and during that time, he charted 4 top-10 Billboard singfles, including 2 that peaked at No. 1.
Brenda Lee - Llittle Miss Dynamite spent nearly three decades with Decca/MCA Records (1957-1985) and charted 9 top-10 Billboard chart singles. She recorded duet singles with Willie Nelson and George Jones.
Jan Howard recorded for Decca Records (1960-1978) for nearly two decades. During her career, she scored 6 Billboard top-10 singles, including 1 No. 1. Jan charted top-10 duet singles with Bill Anderson.
Jimmie Davis - recorded twice for Decca Records between 1934 and 1975. His biggest success came between 1944 and 1947, when he charted 5 top-10 Billboard singles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------Researched, written and compiled by Richard Bell, Roots of Country Music, Oct. 31, 2011.
