Valley Vue Records was a record label in California founded by Hillery Johnson in 1983. Arirts on the label included Jerry Butler, Craig T. Cooper, Klymaxx, The Manhattans, Johnny "Guitar" Watson and Michael Wycoff.
Background It was a small California based record label located in Palm Springs.Soul Train 10 of The Best Ballads of the 80s, The Manhattans, Why You Wanna Love Me Like This (1989) Its founder Hillery Johnson had produced artists such as Donny Hathaway.Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office: Trademarks, Volume 1162, Issue 2 Page 15, 138Mainstream Source Artist Bio's Tad Sisler Johnson was also vice-president of Atlantic Records.The Afro American Feb 18, 1978 Page 28 National Roundup
Staff In addition to Johnson, the founder Who Produced IT Single Artist as Contributor: Hillery Johnson there was vice-president and general manager Michael Dion. Dion had founded the Jazz label ITI Records in California.Billboard October 15, 1983 Page 36, Jazz - Fledgling ITA Label Maps Ambitious PlansJazzTimes April 1996 Page 105PMP Network Jerry Butler Iceman
Artists released Johnny "Guitar" Watson's album Strike on Computers was released on Valley Vue VV69.Billboard, November 24, 1984 p. 64 after having a break from music for about three years, Watson ended up with Johnson in the studio after Johnson who had been a fan of his had suggested they go in and do something. As a result, Strike On Computers came about and was released on the label.The Gangster of Love: Johnny "Guitar" Watson: Performer, Preacher, Pimp By Vincent Bakker pp. 175/6 In 1988, Chicago blues and soul singer, Cicero Blake had his album Too Hip To Be Happy released on the label.Encyclopedia of the Blues by Edward Komara Page 97, 98 BLAKE, CICERO In the 1990s, R&B singer Lamarr K. Swing had his debut album which was actually called His Debut Album released on the label. It was manufactured and marketed by Valley Vue Records. It was produced by Lonnie Reaves and the executive producer was Hillery Johnson.Rareandobscuremusic.wordpress.com, Lamarr K. SwingDiscogs Lamarr K. Swing – His Debut Album KFAI Radio 2/17/2014 Fused Funk Playlist Tracks: Lamar K Swing - Low key (remix)
Reissues Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers had their album Bustin Loose reissued in the early 1990s on the label.The Washington Post, May 4, 2002 A Man of Solid Go-Go Gold By Natalie Hopkinson Jerry Butler's 1994 album Simply Beautiful was also released on the label.MTV Jerry Butler Discography Album Simply Beautiful Label Valley Vue Released July 22, 1994
Artists distributed Tad Sisler's Jazz album So Good To Come Home To was distributed by Valley Vue in the US.Mainstream Source Artist Bio's Tad Sisler The album featured Gerald Albright and Terri Lyne Carrington.
Catalogue (selective) Albums Johnny "Guitar" Watson – Strike On Computers - Valley Vue Records – ST-72943 (1987) 101 North - 101 North - Valley Vue Records – C1-90911 (1988) The Manhattans - Sweet Talk - Valley Vue Records – D1-72946 (1989) Craig T. Cooper - Craig T. Cooper Project - Valley Vue Records – D1-72947 (1989) Craig T. Cooper – Got-That-Thang - Valley Vue Records – D1-72992 (1990) Wayne Boyer – This One's For Me - Valley Vue Records – V1-61290 (1990) Discogs Valley Vue Records
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