Abbott Records was an American label run by Fabor Robison from 1951 to 1958, focusing on country, rockabilly, and later, mainstream pop. It gained success despite limited resources, launching careers for artists like Johnny Horton and Jim Reeves. Initially created to record Horton, the label shifted focus after selling his contract to Mercury in 1952, instead signing Louisiana Hayride artists, including Reeves, whose hits Mexican Joe and Bimbo put Abbott on the map.
By 1953, Robison bought out his partner, Sid Abbott, and established the Fabor Records subsidiary. Abbott saw further success with Mitchell Torok’s Caribbean and the DeCastro Sisters’ Teach Me Tonight, which became its biggest hit. As rock ‘n’ roll surged, Robison discontinued Abbott and Fabor in 1958, launching the short-lived Radio Records.
Robison later revived Fabor in 1962 to reissue From a Jack to a King by Ned Miller. Abbott mainly focused on singles, with only a few albums released. Eventually, Robison sold much of his catalog, and by the 1970s or 80s, his vault was acquired by the Shelby Singleton Corporation. While Abbott was home to future stars, its artists often achieved greater success after leaving the label. Robison’s legacy is mixed—recognized for discovering talent but also criticized by some artists for his business practices.
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