Victor "Vic" Leroy Damon started a recording business,
Damon Transcription Laboratory in 1933 in
Kansas City (Midland Building at 1221 Baltimore). He later moved the studio to 117 W. 14th Street and operated it, under the name
Damon Recording Studios, until retirement in 1973. His assistant, Chuck Chapman, kept the studio running until 1975, then moved into the Cavern Sound facility in
Independence, Missouri, for two more years operating as Cavern/Damon. Damon was an in-house label of the Damon's studio. Damon used musicians and singers who were not members of the
American Federation of Musicians labor union to make recordings during the ban on Union recordings ordered by
James Petrillo. In May 1948, the singing duo of
Jon and Sondra Steele released "My Happiness" on Damon Records, a fact that was acknowledged on sheet music promoting the song. One of the better known artists with Damon was big band bandleader
Al Trace. The
Al Trace Orchestra recorded for major labels in the 1940s in addition to Damon. Trace was a writer on several popular songs, including "If I'd Known You Were Coming I'd Have Baked a Cake." The label was still in existence up to at least 1960, when a rock 'n' roll group from
Pittsburg, Kan.,
Conny and the Bellhops, had a regional hit with a 45 titled "Shot Rod," an instrumental on the Damon label. The Vic Damon Collection is part of the
Marr Sound Archives at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. == Rebirth ==