Record Labels - Okeh Records

Hover over each image for information about each individual label.

Okeh Records

The Okeh Record Company (pronounced "O-K") was founded in 1916 by Otto Heinemann, a manager of the US branch of Odeon Records. Okeh's first records were vertically cut, but they switched to the more prevalent lateral cut in 1919. After a successful run of records by blues singer Mamie Smith in 1920, Okeh started making the first "Race" records in 1922 and recorded a great number of early jazz and blues from top black performers of the day including the great King Oliver. Several years after Oliver's Okeh recordings, his protégé Louis Armstrong made a string of landmark jazz records for Okeh. In 1926, Okeh switched to electrical recording and was purchased by Columbia records. The label gradually disappeared by 1935 with Columbia's instability. After the CBS buyout of Columbia, the Okeh division was re-launched in 1940, continuing until 1946, and again in 1951.

An early laterally cut Okeh record. The writing on the label partially obscures the seal at that top stating 'The Record of Quality'. This record dates to 1919, the year Okeh released their laterally cut records.

An acoustically recorded Okeh from the early 1920s. This example dates to 1922.

A Truetone Okeh made shortly before Columbia's takeover. This example dates to 1926.

Some Okeh records in the second half of the 1920s, after the Columbia buyout, were made with a red label similar to the pre-Columbia Okehs. This example dates to 1927.

An electrically recorded Okeh produced after the Columbia buyout. This example dates to 1930.

In the 1930s, when sales figures were extraordinarily low, Okeh returned to a red label, and added a radio license notice. This example dates to 1935.

An Okeh record produced by Columbia. This example dates to 1942.

Special/Other Okeh Labels

The first of two slightly differing designs of a picture label produced in the late 1920s and early 1930s by Okeh for their most popular artist at the time, Seger Ellis. To my knowledge, the only 'artist's label' made by Okeh. This example dates to 1929.

The second of the two picture labels depicting Seger Ellis. This example dates to 1930.

Other Labels Produced by Okeh

An American Odeon record made by the General Phonograph Company. This example dates to the early 1920s.

The American Odeon ONY series was made by Okeh from Okeh masters, supposedly for sale on the West Coast. They didn't seem to do well and are quite rare today. This example dates to 1929.

Special Pressings by Okeh

A special Okeh pressing made for the (in)famous radio station KWKH in Shreveport, LA, featuring spoken word by station owner W.K. Henderson on one side and a country song by Blind Andy on the other. This dates to 1927-1930, the matrix places it at 1930.

Sleeves

An acoustic era Okeh sleeve from the early 1920s, probably dating to before the introduction of race records

An Okeh Electric sleeve from the late 1920s. This designs came in several colors. This example dates to about 1929.

All images on this page created by R. Connor Montgomery, please do not reproduce without permission.