Sol Rabinowitz

Sol Rabinowitz (1924–2013) was an American record executive, producer, and founder of Baton Records, an independent New York label that became known for its rhythm & blues and doo-wop recordings of the 1950s. Born in the Bronx, Rabinowitz developed an early interest in jazz and blues and began his career in the record business as a salesman and distributor. He later worked for Malverne Distributors, a New York distributor associated with Mercury Records.

In the early 1950s, Rabinowitz discovered a demo by The Rivileers, a group of young musicians from Jamaica, Queens. Impressed by their recording of “A Thousand Stars,” he arranged a new recording session and attempted to lease the resulting masters to established record companies. When those efforts failed, Rabinowitz decided to release the recordings himself, establishing Baton Records. “A Thousand Stars,” issued in 1954, became a regional hit and launched the label.

Rabinowitz went on to produce recordings by artists including The Hearts, Ann Cole, Buddy Tate, The Fidelitys, and Noble “Thin Man” Watts. His discovery and recording of Ann Cole was particularly significant; her 1957 Baton recording of “Got My Mojo Working” preceded the better-known version by Muddy Waters.

Baton closed in 1959, after which Rabinowitz briefly operated Sir Records. He later joined Columbia Records, where he worked in A&R and helped develop the Okeh and Epic labels. He eventually became a vice president of CBS International and remained in the record business until his retirement in 1986. Rabinowitz died in 2013 at the age of 88.