In 1955, seasoned music producer Peter Doraine—known for his work with labels like Abbey and Banner—took his talents south to Birmingham, Alabama, launching a new rhythm and blues label: Vulcan Records. Backed by Southland Enterprises, with Cy Aptaker as sales director, Vulcan Records aimed to bring soulful R&B sounds to the South, while its sister label, Pennant Records, covered the pop and country genres.
Vulcan’s debut included releases from The Five Owls (“Pleading to You,” “I Like Moonshine”) and Ethel Boswell (“No More For You,” “Don’t Add to the Upset”). Doraine also established Pennant Music Publishing, affiliated with BMI, and had ambitions to open a full-fledged recording studio in Birmingham.
Despite its short lifespan—roughly a year—Vulcan Records remains a fascinating footnote in the world of independent labels, capturing a unique moment in Southern R&B history.
VULCAN RECORDS DISCOGRAPHY
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[…] Blues” by J. Lawrence Cook, which charted at number 13 in 1950. In 1955, Doraine launched Vulcan Records and Pennant Records, further contributing to the music industry. He passed away on October 26, […]
[…] on pop and country music, serving as a counterpart to Doraine’s rhythm and blues label, Vulcan Records. Both labels were backed by Southland Enterprises, a regional music distributor, with Cy Aptaker […]