Bayou Records

Bayou Records was a short-lived American rhythm and blues label established in Los Angeles in 1953 by record producer Franklin Kort, who had previously worked with Recorded In Hollywood Records. The label specialized in R&B and issued recordings by several important performers of the period, including Joe Turner, Joe Houston, L. C. Williams, Clarence Samuels, Mercy Dee, Dave Bartholomew, Big Jay McNeely, and Jesse Allen.

Bayou’s catalog was brief, but its connection to Imperial Records is significant. Imperial owner Lew Chudd acquired Bayou, bringing its recordings and artists into the Imperial orbit. One notable Bayou release was Joe Turner’s “The Sun Is Shining” / “Blues Jump the Rabbit,” issued as Bayou 015 in 1953. Turner was under contract to Atlantic at the time, which may help explain why the release received little contemporary promotion.

Bayou’s short existence came during a period when Imperial was becoming one of the important independent R&B labels in the United States. Imperial had developed a particularly strong presence in New Orleans R&B, working with artists such as Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis, and other New Orleans musicians, and Bayou’s roster reflects the broader R&B market that Imperial was pursuing.

Although Bayou produced only a small number of releases, its recordings are part of the early-1950s R&B landscape that helped connect Los Angeles record companies with musicians from New Orleans and other regional music centers.

Bayou Records Discography