R&B Records
Date
1959
History
R&B Records was a record shop and label based in Stamford Hill run by Jewish couple Rita and Benny King (formerly Isen). They were one of the most popular record stores in Hackney during the 1960s known primarily for selling reggae, ska and rock steady records. Rita and Benny were celebrated for their promotion of Jamaican artists - they were one of the first labels in Britain to do so.
R&B Records was originally based at 282 Stamford Hill and later moved to 260. The shop would often be busy with people socialising and buying records. It was popular amongst the young Black community in Hackney as well as some Mod groups who were drawn to the shop's ska music releases.
Under R&B Records - the parent label started in 1963 - were several other sub-labels including King, Ska Beat, Caltone and Port-O-Jam. Rita would travel to Jamaica to liaise with artists and producers which would then release with R&B. According to reggae writer Penny Reel, the R&B label 'King' mostly released non-Jamaican records such as music from the USA.
Image credit: Hackney Council via Flickr.
R&B Records was originally based at 282 Stamford Hill and later moved to 260. The shop would often be busy with people socialising and buying records. It was popular amongst the young Black community in Hackney as well as some Mod groups who were drawn to the shop's ska music releases.
Under R&B Records - the parent label started in 1963 - were several other sub-labels including King, Ska Beat, Caltone and Port-O-Jam. Rita would travel to Jamaica to liaise with artists and producers which would then release with R&B. According to reggae writer Penny Reel, the R&B label 'King' mostly released non-Jamaican records such as music from the USA.
Image credit: Hackney Council via Flickr.