Vee Jay Records

Vee Jay Records was established in 1953 by Vivian Carter and James Bracken, becoming the most successful Black-owned record company of its time. The company achieved success with blues artists like Jimmy Reed and later with vocal groups such as the Spaniels and Jerry Butler and the Impressions.1

Vee Jay Records reached a peak in the early 1960s with hits by the Four Seasons. They also capitalized on the opportunity to release early Beatles singles and their first American album when Capitol Records declined to do so. This success, however, led to overexpansion and contributed to the company's bankruptcy shortly thereafter.1