Cameo was a
USA based
record label, first flourishing in the 1920s, not connected with a
later record label of the same name which was active in the 1950s and 1960s.
Memphis Five, 1924
The Cameo Record Company was based in
Manhattan,
New York. Cameo records were introduced in February 1922, selling for 50 cents each, and soon Cameo became one of the more popular budget labels.
Cameo Records are noted for a wealth of
jazz influenced 1920s dance music. While there is little of outstanding importance on Cameo, a high percentage of Cameo Records have fairly good hot music. New York based musicians such as
Red Nichols,
Miff Mole,
Adrian Rollini, and
Frank Signorelli made many trips to the Cameo studios. In 1926, Cameo started recording using a microphone-electrical process. An interesting blues number is 583, "Crazy Blues", by
Salt & Pepper.
Cameo also featured a series of recordings by noted early
blues singer
Lucille Hegamin.
Cameo also owned the
Lincoln Records and
Romeo Records labels, as well as a subsidiary for making records for children,
Cameo-Kid.
Cameo was purchased by
Pathé Records in 1928; the label continued in use until 1930. Pathé was in turn acquired by the
American Record Corporation.
See also
Category:American record labelsCategory:Record labels established in 1922Category:Record labels disestablished in 1930Category:Jazz record labelsde:Cameo Records
