Modern Records

In the beginning, Modern bought master recordings from other small labels, as with the purchase of 32 unreleased Gold Star Records master recordings by Lightnin' Hopkins and Lil' Son Jackson for $2,500 from Bill Quinn in 1951. The Biharis also often used pseudonyms to give themselves writing credit on songs. In 1964, the Modern imprint was revived and the Ikettes released a few successful singles in 1965, but the company went bankrupt a few years later and ceased operations. The catalog went with the management into Kent Records. This back catalog was eventually licensed to the UK label Ace Records in the 1980s and later sold outright during the 1990s. Ace Records of the U.K. now owns the master tapes. ==Management and staff==

• Saul, Jules and Joe Bihari were the main people who ran the label. Their older brother Lester was only there sporadically. • Ike Turner was a talent scout and session musician for Modern Records in the 1950s. According to B.B. King and Joe Bihari, Turner introduced King to the Bihari brothers which led to his RPM releases. and later owner and president of Impact Records. • Austin McCoy was an artist, session musician and recording session director with Modern Records. He left Modern in late 1950 to take up an A&R post with Mercury Records at their Beverly Hills office. ==Albums==

• Modern Music: The First Year – 1945 (Ace CDTOP 1339, 2012) The following albums were released in mono with catalogue numbers "M-70" and in stereo with catalogue numbers "MST-8": • –00 Era of Tommy Dorsey • –01 Era of Benny Goodman • –02 Era of Charlie Barnet • –03 Era of Glenn Miller • –04 Era of Woody Herman • –05 Era of the Big Bands • –06 Dixieland • –07 Polka Party Time • –08 Honky Tonk Piano • –09 The Strauss Waltzes • –10 Day Dreams • –11 Organ Gems • –12 Cha Cha Cha • –13 Sing-A-Long • –14 Rock and Roll Party • –15 The Heart of Spain • –16 Oldies and Goodies • –17 Progressive Percussion • –18 Hawaiian Holiday • –19 Era of Hank Williams • –20 Tradewinds to Hawaii • –21 Dynamic Percussion • –22 Mambo Cha Cha Cha • –23 The Fabulous Ink Spots == Selected singles ==

• Kent Records • Crown Records • Flair Records • Meteor Records • RPM Records • Yuletide Records (Christmas music) ==References==