Kangaroo Records

Kangaroo Records was an American record label established in 1958 in Houston, Texas by co-founders Henry Hayes and M.L. Young.[1] It was an independent label and recorded at Gold Star Studio in Houston.[2][3] The label debuted the work of musical artists Albert Collins and Joe "Guitar" Hughes, including the 1958 hit "The Freeze". Hayes was also a musician and played the alto sax[4] and recorded songs with his own band as well as backing other artists.

History

Henry Hayes, Jr. was born in 1923 in Dallas, Texas.[5] He worked as a public school teacher and lived in Houston's Third Ward. He was recorded on singles for various labels. Hayes and his friend Mel "M. L." Young started the Kangaroo Records record label together in spring of 1958.[6]

Hayes had heard about Albert Collins from Joe "Guitar" Hughes. After seeing him perform live, Hayes encouraged Collins to record a single for Kangaroo Records.[6] Collins recorded his debut single, "Freeze", backed with "Collins Shuffle", for the label at Gold Star Studios in the spring of 1958, with Hayes on saxophone.[7] Texas blues bands of this period incorporated a horn section, and Collins later credited Hayes with teaching him how to arrange for horns.[8] Collins' instrumental song "The Freeze" became a hit.[1][4]

Joe Hughes first recordings were with Kangaroo Records.[9]

Hayes was part of music groups known as the Four Kings, Rhythm Kings, and Henry Hayes Orchestra.[1] Hayes influenced other musicians,[10] and founded several record labels over the years.[11]

Discography
  • "The Freeze", Albert Collins (1958)[1]
  • "Collins Shuffle", Albert Collins (1958)[12]
  • "I Can't Go On This Way"
  • "Make Me Dance Little Ant", Joe Hughes[13]
  • "Two Big Feet" and "Call of the Kangaroo"[14][1]
  • "It Takes Money",
  • "Stop Smackin' That Wax",
  • "I Want a Big White Cadillac for Christmas", Joey Carr
  • "Rock 'n' Roll Santa", Joey Carr
  • Smackin' That Wax: The Kangaroo Records Story, 1959-1964 (1992), compilation[15]

References
  1. Bradley, Andy; Wood, Roger (March 1, 2010). House of Hits: The Story of Houston's Gold Star/SugarHill Recording Studios. University of Texas Press. ISBN 9780292783249 – via Google Books.
  2. Wood, Charles Roger; Fraher, James (April 1, 2003). Down in Houston: Bayou City blues. University of Texas Press. ISBN 9780292791596 – via Google Books.
  3. Bradley, Andy; Wood, Roger (April 1, 2010). House of Hits: The Story of Houston's Gold Star/SugarHill Recording Studios. University of Texas Press. ISBN 9780292719194 – via Google Books.
  4. Rubin, Dave (January 1, 2007). Inside the Blues: 1942 to 1982. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9781423416661 – via Google Books.
  5. Eagle, Bob L.; LeBlanc, Eric S. (May 1, 2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313344244 – via Google Books.
  6. Govenar, Alan B. (9 October 2008). Texas Blues: The Rise of a Contemporary Sound. Texas A&M University Press. pp. 223–. ISBN 978-1-58544-605-6. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  7. Bradley, Andy (March 2010). House of Hits. University of Texas Press. pp. 83–. ISBN 978-0-292-78324-9. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  8. Obrecht, Jas, ed. (1993). Blues Guitar: The Men Who Made the Music. 2nd ed. Miller Freeman Books. pp. 246–259. ISBN 0-87930-292-5.
  9. Jasinski, Laurie E. (February 22, 2012). Handbook of Texas Music. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN 9780876112977 – via Google Books.
  10. Larkin, Colin (April 28, 1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues. Virgin. ISBN 9780753502266 – via Google Books.
  11. Charles Roger Wood; James Fraher (1 April 2003). Down in Houston: Bayou City blues. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-79159-6.
  12. Greensmith, Bill; Camarigg, Mark; Rowe, Mike (September 30, 2015). Blues Unlimited: Essential Interviews from the Original Blues Magazine. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252097508 – via Google Books.
  13. "Living Blues". Center for the Study of S Southern Culture, The University of Mississippi. April 28, 2003 – via Google Books.
  14. "The Freeman Twins, Henry Hayes and His Orchestra – Two Big Feet / Call of the Kangaroo (Vinyl)". Discogs.
  15. Smackin' that wax : the Kangaroo Records story, 1959-1964. Collectables. June 5, 1992. OCLC 045536770.
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