Updates

• Added info on Jimmy Ford, thanks to Volker Houghton. • Extended and corrected the post on Happy Harold Thaxton (long overdue), thanks to everyone who sent in memories and information! • Added information to the Jim Murray post, provided by Mike Doyle, Dennis Rogers, and Marty Scarbrough. • Expanded the information on Charlie Dial found in the Little Shoe post.

Monday, August 4, 2014

Apache Records


Apache Records was founded by John Bowers and Brady Ward in 1960, located on 106 N. Main Street in Crestview, Florida. It is not to be confused with Apache Records from New York City or another company of the same name from Los Angeles. The first two releases came out on March 1, 1960, with Crook Jr. "Wiggle It Baby" / "Please Believe Me Darling" (Apache 1786) and Clifford King "Chicken Shack Boogie" b/w "I Want to Jump with You Baby" (Apache 1788), both backed by the Rockin' Aces. Artists that recorded for Apache were mainly local singers and bands that recorded at the label's own studio in Crestview. Bowers and Ward offered auditions to "any local group who feel they have musical talent."

Apache records were pressed by RCA in Indianapolis, Indiana. The label had no actual numerical system, RCA simply assigned records with a number, taking the last four digits of the A side matrix number.

Record collector Jay Ball visited one of the owners in the 1970s, living in a trailer in poor condition. When he went back later, he found the trailer burned down without any traces of the owner.

Apache advertising for Clinton Brooks' record in Billboard (November 14, 1960)

Discography
Apache 1786: Crook, Jr. - Wiggle It Baby / Please Believe Me Darling (1960)
Apache 1788: Clifford King - Want to Jump with You Baby / Chicken Shack Boogie (1960)
Apache 1818: Stanley James - Alligator Man / I Need You So
Apache 1820: Lee Daugherty and Offbeats - My Babe / Please Never
Apache 1828: Clinton Brooks and the B's - If You Go Know / Tom Duley Rock (1960)
Apache 1830: Big Jesse and the Blue Ace's - Come On Baby / Rugged (1960)
Apache 1834: Red Riley and the Sunset Driftors - Teachers's Pet / Tropical Waltz
Apache 1836: Rex Qual (Guitar, Jr.) - Going Rocking Tonight / Tranquilizer Boogie (1960)

Sources: "Local Recording Company Issues First Discs Here", The Okaloosa News-Journal, Crestview, Florida, March 3, 1960, Bob, Steve, The DrunkenHobo, Steve Gronda

10 comments:

Apesville said...

Apache (FL) 45 - 1515 Concepts - In The Jungle
Apache (FL) 45 - 1516 Sweet Marquess - I love My Baby / You Lied (1961)
Apache (FL) 45 - 1586 Crook, Jr. - Wiggle It Baby
Apache (FL) 45 - 1788 Clifford King - Chicken Shack Boogie / I want To Jump With You Baby (1960)
Apache (FL) 45 - 1818 Stanley James - Alligator Man (1958)
Apache (FL) 45 - 1820 Lee Daughty -My Babe (1958)
Apache (FL) 45 - 1828 Clinton Brooks - Tom Duley Rock (1958)
Apache (FL) 45 - 1834 Red Riley - Teachers's Pet (1959)
Apache (FL) 45 - 1836 Rex Qual - Going Rocking Tonight / Tranquilizer Boogie (1960)

The 1500 seroes appears to be Doo-wop the 1700 series seems to be Black Rockin' BLues
1800 seriers White R'N'R
I guess there is a 1600 series as well?

MY work on the label can be found here http://www.rockhall.ro/forums/index.php?topic=32795.

Bob said...

Concepts and Sweet Marquees on earlier (not related) Apache label out of New-York.

Crook Jr is 1786. Likely from the same session as Clifford King (two primitive blues)

No actual series here. Release numbers were allocated by RCA custom division when the owner didn't have one. This is case here : RCA are simply taking the last four digits of the master number of side A.

Apesville said...

Thanks for the correcting Bob, Dean

Anonymous said...

Does anyone have any more information about this label? I live in Crestview and I have never even heard about this label until today. I think this is amazing.

Mark Sublette said...

I found this information today on Apache Records...

Apache Records was a small music recording label with a studio located in Crestview, Florida, that released its first records in March 1960. The business was owned and operated by co-partners John Bowers and Brady Ward, with offices on Main Street in the north Okaloosa County county seat of Crestview.
The company featured local vocalists and groups, and utilized a pressing plant operated by RCA Records in Indianapolis, Indiana, to produce its releases.
The first two releases, which were distributed beginning on March 1, 1960, were 45 rpm singles, one being "Wiggle It Baby", backed with "Please Believe Me Darling", by local African-American Crestview artist Cook Jr., backed by Mobile, Alabama combo the Rocking Aces. The other release was "The Chicken Shack Boogie", backed with "I Want To Jump With You Baby", by "Mobile Negro vocalist Clyde King, also backed by the Rocking Aces.
"Bowers has just returned from a trip through Louisiana, Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama lining up wholesale sellers for the records and 500 records have been released to deejays throughout the country. These records are already in record shops in Crestview and surrounding areas. Other recordings are already in Indiana being pressed for release. Says co-owner Ward: 'We are willing to audition any local group who feel they have musical talent.'"

Source - "Local Recording Company Issues First Discs Here", The Okaloosa News-Journal, Crestview, Florida, Thursday 3 March 1960, Volume 46, Number 9, page A-5.

Mellow said...

Thanks Mark, I will rewrite the post as soon as possible.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Add Apache 1830 Big Jesse and the Blue Ace's (sic)' Come On Baby/Rugged. Masters L80w-7635, L80-7636. Soul vocal backed by sexy Instro.

Fellow collector Jay Ball visited one of the owners in the seventies. He no longer recalls which guy it was, but he was living in a trailer in poor conditions. Jay got a number of Apaches, including the Clifford King, which he traded to me. Jay later went back, but found the trailer burned to the ground, allegedly after being hit by lightning. He found no further trace of the label or it's owners.
Hope this helps, Steve

Anonymous said...

Hi, Add Apache 1830 Big Jesse and the Blue Ace's (sic)' Come On Baby/Rugged. Masters L80w-7635, L80-7636. Soul vocal backed by sexy Instro.

Fellow collector Jay Ball visited one of the owners in the seventies. He no longer recalls which guy it was, but he was living in a trailer in poor conditions. Jay got a number of Apaches, including the Clifford King, which he traded to me. Jay later went back, but found the trailer burned to the ground, allegedly after being hit by lightning. He found no further trace of the label or it's owners.
Hope this helps, Steve

bopping said...

Flipside of 1818 Stanley James is "I need you so" (H.G. 183)

Steve Gronda said...

The flip of Red Riley and the Sunset Driftors (sic) is Tropical Waltz, a slow C&W tune. The better side is Teacher's Pet, a slightly uptempo C & W ditty.