Ashawnta Jackson
@heyjackson.bsky.social
Writer and record collector. Author of SOUL-FOLK (Bloomsbury) and a forthcoming book on Black-owned record labels (WW Norton, 2027)
www.heyjackson.net
www.heyjackson.net
For those that don't know, Debut Records was a label founded in 1952 by jazz musicians Charles Mingus and Max Roach, and Mingus's wife, Celia (who did the heavy lifting running the day-to-day) "She was the brains, but it was my ideas, and her carrying them out," Mingus said
June 12, 2025 at 7:06 PM
For those that don't know, Debut Records was a label founded in 1952 by jazz musicians Charles Mingus and Max Roach, and Mingus's wife, Celia (who did the heavy lifting running the day-to-day) "She was the brains, but it was my ideas, and her carrying them out," Mingus said
Adventures in research. Digging into the Debut Records archives. The research is almost always more fun than the writing
![Typed letter from lawyers to bassist Charles Mingus reading, in part "Dear Mr. Mingus, our firm would appreciate it greatly if you not announce to our friends and business associates plus others in various walks of like that we are stealing your money from royalties and other assets. [...] We hope you respond with the same vigor to this urgent matter as you did in publishing the rumor that we were thieves."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rw4a5xtamcyc6p4iiepzmnxr/bafkreifarwa6wuoan46ppjhaptuanwl2tcrsfgdvbcb5it4ghepj2icwfu@jpeg)
June 12, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Adventures in research. Digging into the Debut Records archives. The research is almost always more fun than the writing
Anyway, there are so many stories like this about small and not-so-small Black-owned labels. Someone should write a book. Oh. Wait. Someone is! Back to work, I guess. This was a nice diversion
February 26, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Anyway, there are so many stories like this about small and not-so-small Black-owned labels. Someone should write a book. Oh. Wait. Someone is! Back to work, I guess. This was a nice diversion
While looking for something else, I came across this article from 1975. People have been absolute disasters for a long time. I also tried and failed to find out how it all ended. I'm guessing the judge probably told that man "good luck" and sent him on his way
January 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
While looking for something else, I came across this article from 1975. People have been absolute disasters for a long time. I also tried and failed to find out how it all ended. I'm guessing the judge probably told that man "good luck" and sent him on his way
I've wanted to explore the history of Black-owned record labels for a long time, and so I'm pretty excited to do it in book form. This is a history that starts way before Motown and continues far beyond it. It's full of characters, stories, weirdness and good music. Can't wait to share it
November 19, 2024 at 7:34 PM
I've wanted to explore the history of Black-owned record labels for a long time, and so I'm pretty excited to do it in book form. This is a history that starts way before Motown and continues far beyond it. It's full of characters, stories, weirdness and good music. Can't wait to share it