Ronn Records Story (2-CD)

by Various Artists

Stan Lewis, who owned a record shop in Shreveport, Louisiana, became the region's top independent record distributor and produced hits like Dale Hawkins's "Susie-Q" for other labels before finally launching his own Jewel Records in 1963. Though he had pop success with John Fred's "Judy in Disguise" and Nat Stuckey's "Sweet Thing," his emphasis was on blues and R&B. RONN RECORDS was a subsidiary of blues power house Jewel Records, started in 1967 as an ?uptown R & B and Jazz? subsidiary. It was named for owner Stan Lewis' younger brother, Ronny Lewis. The first hit on Ronn was Ronn 3, "Nothing Takes the Place of You" by Toissaint McCall, which reached #5 on the R&B charts in late spring, 1967. McCall was a singer/keyboardist from Monroe, Louisiana. His followup single, "I'll Do It for You" [Ronn 9] made #26 in the summer of 1967, but the next five singles, and his album, failed to chart. McCall apparently went back to Monroe and was not heard from again until 1988, when he was seen lip-synching his hit "Nothing Takes the Place of You" in the Movie Hairspray. As to further chart singles on Ronn, Ted Taylor and Little Johnny Taylor, each had a number of R&B charters further solidifying the label?s success. This collection represents the best of the RONN singles and album tracks. This is the first compilation ever dedicated to the RONN label.