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Don Robey

Don Deadric Robey (November 1, 1903 – June 16, 1975) was an influential American record producer, nightclub owner, and talent promoter who founded Peacock Records in 1949, establishing one of the first successful Black-owned record labels in the United States and shaping the postwar blues, rhythm and blues, and gospel music scenes from his base in Houston, Texas.^[1]^[2] Born in Houston, Robey initially worked in various jobs before entering the entertainment industry during the 1930s as a promoter for touring shows and musicians.^[1] In 1945, he opened the Bronze Peacock Dinner Club, a prominent nightclub that hosted top jazz and blues performers and served as a launching pad for his broader empire, which later included the Buffalo Booking Agency for artist management and touring.^[2]^[3] By the late 1940s, Robey transitioned into recording, launching Peacock Records with an initial focus on blues and R&B, quickly achieving commercial success through hits like Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog" (1953) and releases by Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown.^[1] Robey's business acumen expanded his holdings to include the acquisition of Duke Records in 1952, followed by imprints like Back Beat (1957) and Song Bird for gospel music, creating what was at its peak the most successful Black-owned record company in America, rivaling major labels in influence if not scale.^[2]^[1] He signed and developed numerous iconic artists, including Bobby "Blue" Bland (who scored 36 Billboard R&B chart hits under Duke from 1957 to 1970), Johnny Ace, Junior Parker, O.V. Wright, Floyd Dixon, and gospel groups such as the Dixie Hummingbirds and Mighty Clouds of Joy, while also booking acts like B.B. King through his agency.^[1]^[2] Despite his achievements in promoting Black talent during an era of segregation and limited opportunities, Robey's reputation was complicated by his aggressive business tactics, including disputed songwriting credits under the pseudonym Deadric Malone and control over artists' careers, which drew criticism from contemporaries.^[1] In 1973, he sold his Duke-Peacock operations to ABC-Dunhill Records, retiring with a lasting legacy that earned him induction into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2014 and a Texas Historical Marker in 2011.^[2]^[1]

Early life

Birth and family

Don Deadric Robey was born on November 1, 1903, in Houston, Texas, to parents Zebulon Reese "Zeb" Robey and Gertrude Hill Robey.^[1]^[2] Robey was born to an African American father and a Jewish mother, reflecting his mixed heritage in a time of strict racial segregation. His family resided in a modest household in Houston's Fifth Ward, where his father worked as a professional chef to support the family. Robey grew up in this working-class environment during the era of racial segregation in the Jim Crow South, which shaped his early worldview.^[2] As a child, Robey was exposed to the vibrant local music scenes in Houston through church services and community events, which sparked an early interest in entertainment despite the limitations imposed by segregation. Robey's full name included the middle name "Deadric," which he occasionally used in his business dealings, such as crediting songwriting under that pseudonym later in his career.

Pre-entertainment career

Born in Houston's Fifth Ward, Don Robey dropped out of high school in his late teens to pursue professional gambling, a path that defined his early adulthood in the 1920s and 1930s. This venture into high-stakes games like poker and dice not only generated initial capital but also cultivated his reputation for street savvy and resilience amid the economic challenges of the era, including the Great Depression.^[4]^[5]^[6] To sustain himself, Robey held a series of odd jobs that honed his entrepreneurial instincts, working as a chauffeur and a taxi driver who rose to manage a service. These positions involved travel to major cities, including a three-year stint in Los Angeles during the late 1920s and early 1930s, where he operated a small establishment called the Harlem Grill and expanded his network beyond Texas.^[4]^[6]^[2] Robey's immersion in gambling fostered a bold risk-taking mindset and sharp, often ruthless negotiation tactics, enabling him to navigate competitive underworlds with calculated aggression. Having forgone advanced formal education after high school, he prioritized hands-on experience from these informal enterprises, which built the business acumen that later propelled his ventures.^[7]^[2] In the late 1910s or early 1920s, Robey married his first wife, Beatrice Emily Sherman, with whom he fathered a son, Louis. By the early 1940s, following his time away, he returned to Houston permanently, marking a shift toward more structured pursuits while drawing on the foundations laid in his youth.^[4]

Entry into music business

Nightclub ownership

Don Robey entered Houston's entertainment scene in the 1940s by acquiring and operating the Club Matinee, a prominent supper club located at 3300 Lyons Avenue in the Fifth Ward, renowned as the "Cotton Club of the South" for its lavish jazz and blues performances.^[8] Although publicly listed under Louis Wilton Dickerson, insiders recognized Robey as the true owner, using the venue to host talent shows and live broadcasts from KCOH radio that showcased emerging Black artists.^[8] The club drew crowds with its sophisticated atmosphere, featuring acts that highlighted the vibrant local music talent during a time of racial segregation.^[8] In 1945, Robey opened the Bronze Peacock Dinner Club at 2809 Erastus Street in the Fifth Ward, establishing it as an upscale hub for Black performers and patrons in post-World War II Houston.^[1] Named after his own light complexion and stylish persona, the venue quickly became a success by presenting top jazz bands, orchestras, and electrified combos that blended blues and early rhythm and blues influences.^[1]^[9] Robey personally financed the operation using profits from his earlier gambling endeavors, a pursuit he had followed since leaving school, which allowed him to build the club without external investors.^[2]^[4] The Bronze Peacock's business model emphasized high-quality bookings of regional talent, such as guitarist Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, whose performances helped solidify the club's reputation on the chitlin' circuit.^[9] Additional draws included backroom gambling, liquor, and an overall environment of revelry that attracted successful Black professionals and musicians alike.^[10] This approach not only generated steady revenue but also positioned the club as a key talent scouting ground.^[9] As a cultural landmark in the post-WWII era, the Bronze Peacock fostered essential connections among Houston's Black musicians, transforming the Fifth Ward into a vital center for live entertainment and paving the way for broader music industry opportunities.^[1]^[9] By providing a segregated yet glamorous space for performances, it elevated the local scene's profile and influenced the evolution of blues and jazz in the South.^[1]

Founding Peacock Records

In 1949, Don Robey founded Peacock Records in Houston, Texas, as an independent record label with an initial focus on blues and rhythm and blues, alongside gospel music. The label was named after Robey's Bronze Peacock nightclub, which had already established him as a key figure in the local music scene and provided an early source of talent for recordings. Robey's motivations for launching the venture were rooted in his frustrations with major labels' inadequate promotion of Black artists, as experienced during his management of blues musician Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown with Aladdin Records.^[11] Brown's 1949 debut single on Peacock, “Mary Is Fine” b/w “My Time Is Expensive,” reached #8 on the Billboard R&B chart, providing early commercial success.^[12] The business structure positioned Robey as the sole owner and primary producer, allowing him to maintain complete control over creative and operational decisions without external partners. Initial releases included blues and R&B recordings by Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, with sessions recorded at local Houston studios such as ACA Studios and mastered at facilities like Gold Star Studios before pressing at regional plants. Distribution was handled independently through Robey's established nightclub networks and strategic placements in jukeboxes, targeting urban Black audiences in the South and beyond.^[13]^[11] Early operations faced significant challenges, including a limited budget that restricted marketing efforts and forced heavy reliance on word-of-mouth promotion within Black communities. Despite these hurdles, Peacock Records demonstrated hit potential by 1950 with strong sales of gospel sides, such as those by the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, which sold around 500,000 copies and reached the R&B charts the following year.^[14]

Record labels and operations

Expansion and acquisitions

In 1952, Don Robey formed a partnership with Duke Records, a Memphis-based label founded earlier that year by David J. Mattis and Bill Fitzgerald, to expand his operations with the blues and R&B focus of Peacock Records.^[11]^[15] By April 1953, Robey had acquired full control of Duke and merged it with Peacock, creating the Duke-Peacock entity headquartered at his former Bronze Peacock nightclub on 2809 Erastus Street in Houston.^[11]^[15] This merger consolidated resources, allowing for broader artist rosters and increased production capacity in rhythm and blues and blues genres.^[11] Following the merger, Duke-Peacock shifted emphasis toward secular music, ramping up output of R&B and blues recordings while maintaining Peacock's gospel foundation.^[11]^[16] The company established its primary offices in Houston and leveraged external distribution networks to reach wider markets across the South and beyond, though it later faced competition from larger labels like Motown.^[11] By the late 1950s, this diversification had positioned Duke-Peacock as one of the leading African American-owned record operations in the United States.^[11] To further streamline operations, Robey created subsidiaries such as Back Beat Records in 1957, which specialized in R&B, soul, and blues releases, and Song Bird Records in 1963–64 for gospel material.^[11]^[15]^[16] Additional imprints like Sure-Shot followed in the late 1960s.^[16] These moves supported catalog expansion, culminating in over 2,000 masters and approximately 2,700 copyrighted songs by 1973.^[11]^[16]

Key artists and recordings

Don Robey's Peacock Records and its subsidiary Duke Records became pivotal platforms for emerging talent in the post-war era, signing a roster that spanned blues, R&B, and gospel, with many artists achieving national recognition through landmark recordings produced under Robey's oversight. One of the label's earliest breakthroughs came with blues singer Big Mama Thornton, whose 1953 recording of "Hound Dog," co-written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, was produced by Johnny Otis and recorded in Los Angeles. This track, featuring a gritty vocal delivery backed by a sparse horn section, topped the Billboard R&B chart for seven weeks and laid the groundwork for rock 'n' roll covers, including Elvis Presley's later version. In the R&B realm, Bobby "Blue" Bland emerged as Peacock's most enduring star, with his smooth, emotive style blending gospel fervor and blues phrasing. Bland's 1957 hit "Further Up the Road," recorded under Robey's production with arrangements by Joe Scott, reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart and showcased the label's ability to craft sophisticated ballads with orchestral touches. Other R&B standouts included Johnny Ace, whose early 1950s hits like "My Song" (1952), "The Clock" (1953), and "Cross My Heart" (1954) all reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart, establishing Duke's commercial success before Ace's death in 1954. Junior Parker, whose 1956 single "Mother-in-Law Blues" and 1956's "Next Time You See Me" (co-written with Willie Dixon) both charted on Billboard's R&B lists, highlighting Parker's harmonica-driven sound influenced by Memphis blues traditions. O.V. Wright later joined the roster in the 1960s, delivering soulful tracks like "A Nickel and a Nail" in 1965 on Back Beat Records, which peaked at number 19 on the Billboard R&B chart and exemplified the transition from blues to deep soul. Peacock also played a crucial role in the gospel genre, signing influential quartets and soloists that helped popularize post-war gospel sounds nationwide. The Original Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, led by Archie Brownlee, recorded hits like "Our Father" in 1950, which emphasized tight harmonies and spiritual fervor, contributing to the label's reputation for capturing authentic Southern gospel energy. Sister Wynona Carr, a dynamic preacher-singer, released tracks such as "The Ball Game" in 1952 on Peacock, blending upbeat rhythms with evangelistic lyrics and achieving airplay on R&B stations. Instrumental groups like the Duke-Peacock Orchestra further diversified the catalog, providing backing for vocalists and releasing swing-infused R&B sides that charted modestly in the 1950s. Robey's production style emphasized a hands-on approach in Houston's local studios, where he often directed sessions to fuse the gritty edge of Texas blues with the polished soul influences from Memphis, resulting in recordings that propelled Peacock/Duke artists to over 50 Billboard R&B chart entries between 1952 and 1968.

Business practices

Management and booking

In the late 1940s, Don Robey co-founded the Buffalo Booking Agency with business partners Morris Merritt and Evelyn Johnson to manage and book tours for Black artists, particularly those affiliated with his Peacock and Duke record labels. The agency was established in 1947, with blues guitarist Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown as its first client, and quickly expanded to handle nationwide circuits for key acts like Bobby "Blue" Bland and Junior Parker, routing them through Southern and Midwestern venues during the height of the chitlin' circuit era.^[4]^[2]^[1] Robey's contract structures emphasized long-term exclusive agreements that bound artists to both recording and management obligations, often providing advances in the form of non-monetary support such as cars or uniforms while recouping costs through rigorous tour schedules and performance earnings. As de facto manager for many of his label's talents, Robey maintained tight operational control, ensuring that acts like Bland and Parker performed incessantly to generate revenue streams that supported label promotions. Hit recordings from these artists, such as Bland's "Further Up the Road," in turn boosted demand for their booked tours, creating a symbiotic cycle between studio output and live engagements.^[2]^[13]^[17] Promotional efforts integrated the booking agency directly with label activities, leveraging radio exposure to drive tour bookings and vice versa for cross-revenue generation. Allegations surfaced that Robey's promoter, Dave Clark, engaged in payola by providing payments to white disc jockeys to prioritize Duke and Peacock releases on airwaves, enhancing visibility for agency-booked performances. By the mid-1950s, the agency's operational scale had grown substantially, booking over 100 acts annually—reaching 109 under contract by the early 1960s—primarily across chitlin' circuit venues that catered to Black audiences in the segregated South.^[2]^[9]^[1]

Controversies and disputes

Don Robey faced significant criticism for his practice of claiming songwriting credits on compositions he did not write, thereby denying royalties to the actual creators. Under the pseudonym Deadric Malone, he co-credited himself on numerous hits, including Big Mama Thornton's 1953 recording of "Hound Dog," originally penned by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, as well as many songs associated with Bobby "Blue" Bland, such as those arranged by Joe Scott, who often sold material to Robey without retaining credit or future earnings.^[9]^[13]^[18] Robey's treatment of artists frequently involved exploitation and intimidation to enforce unfavorable contracts, leading to widespread resentment among his roster. He reportedly used threats of violence to maintain control, such as pulling a .45 pistol on distributor Dave Mattis during a dispute over profits, resulting in a settlement, and physically assaulting Little Richard—once slapping him with a hot fish and another time beating him—to compel contract compliance. Big Mama Thornton, after her "Hound Dog" success, received only a $500 flat fee despite the record selling approximately 500,000 copies and topping the R&B charts for seven weeks, prompting her departure from Peacock Records amid ongoing royalty disputes and unfulfilled promises.^[9]^[13]^[19]^[20] In the 1950s, Robey came under scrutiny during federal investigations into payola, where he allegedly bribed disc jockeys to promote his releases, including Johnny Ace's "Pledging My Love," reflecting broader industry corruption. His background in gambling and nightclub operations facilitated ties to organized crime figures, such as associate Andrew "Sunbeam" Mitchell in Memphis, positioning Robey within a network dubbed the "nigga mob" that blended legitimate music ventures with racketeering influences from his pre-entertainment days.^[9] Several lawsuits highlighted these power imbalances, with artists and labels challenging Robey's contract manipulations and unpaid earnings. In 1955, Sun Records successfully sued Robey for $17,500 after he induced Junior Parker to breach his existing contract, a case that underscored Robey's aggressive talent poaching. By the 1960s, disputes escalated, including Parker's claims for back royalties and a 1963 suit by Robey against Checker Records over the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, where he secured a $250,000 judgment in damages plus $10,000 in costs using a contested 1960 contract, though artists often received minimal compensation due to exploitative terms favoring Robey.^[21]^[16]

Later life and legacy

Sale of labels

In the early 1970s, Don Robey divested his music business holdings amid a combination of industry transformations and personal circumstances. On May 23, 1973, he sold Duke-Peacock Records, along with subsidiaries Back Beat, Song Bird, and Sure-Shot, to ABC-Dunhill Records, including approximately 2,700 song copyrights, contracts with around 100 musicians, and 2,000 unreleased masters.^[11] Robey retained an initial consulting role with the buyer but stepped back from active management.^[2] The sale was prompted by a mid-1960s decline in the label's fortunes, driven by evolving music trends such as the ascendancy of soul music that favored larger, more integrated production setups over independent R&B and blues operations, as well as Robey's deteriorating health.^[1]^[16] Accumulated controversies from earlier business disputes may have also influenced the timing of the divestment. This transaction allowed the extensive catalog to gain broader distribution through a major label network.^[10] In the immediate aftermath, key artists transitioned under ABC-Dunhill's umbrella; for instance, Bobby Bland, whose contract had effectively moved with the earlier 1971 sale of the Duke imprint, continued recording new material exclusively for the label post-1973.^[22] Robey's involvement in day-to-day operations ceased, marking the end of his direct control over the Houston-based enterprise that had shaped postwar Black music.^[1]

Death and honors

In his later years, following the 1973 sale of his record labels to ABC-Dunhill, which provided financial security for retirement, Don Robey lived quietly in Houston with his third wife, Murphy L. Robey (née Moore), whom he married around 1960.^[1]^[4] The couple had three children together: Don Robey Jr., Errol Robey, and Althea Robey.^[4] Robey also had several children from previous marriages, including Dr. Louis Reed Robey and Dr. Dona Leah Robey Fields.^[23] Robey died of a heart attack on June 16, 1975, at St. Luke's Hospital in Houston, Texas, at the age of 71.^[1]^[2] Robey received posthumous recognition for his pioneering role in the blues and R&B industries. In 2011, a Texas Historical Marker was dedicated at the site of his Peacock Records in Houston.^[1] In 2014, he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame by the Blues Foundation for building one of the most influential independent entertainment empires through his Duke and Peacock labels and Buffalo Booking Agency.^[2]^[24] His contributions to Texas blues history are documented in the Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas Online, highlighting his work as a music entrepreneur who promoted and recorded key artists in the genre.^[1] Robey's legacy endures through the ongoing influence of his catalog, particularly in hip-hop, where recordings by his artists like Bobby "Blue" Bland have been widely sampled. As of 2025, his role in shaping Houston's music scene continues to be explored in local historical contexts, underscoring his status as the city's first major Black record mogul.^[4]

References

[1]
Robey, Don Deadric - Texas State Historical Association
Explore the life and achievements of Don Deadric Robey, a key figure in the Texas blues scene and founder of Peacock Records, who shaped the music industry ...Missing: promoter | Show results with:promoter
[2]
Don Robey - Blues Foundation
Apr 21, 2017 · Don Robey built one of the most formidable entertainment empires in the independent music business with his Duke and Peacock labels, Buffalo Booking Agency.Missing: biography promoter
[3]
UH Special Collections Hosts Archives from Houston's Blues History
Houstonian Don Robey launched Peacock Records in 1949. ... “Don Robey was at one time considered the most successful African-American record label owner,” Lee ...Missing: promoter | Show results with:promoter<|control11|><|separator|>
[4]
ABOUT | Don Robey
After decades of success in the Music Industry as the first Black Record Mogul, Robey sold all five of his record labels and around 1,500 publishing assets ( ...Missing: biography promoter
[5]
[PDF] Don Robey Collection 13-042 - MTSU
Agency History/Biographical Sketch: Born in 1903 in Houston, Texas' Fifth Ward, Don Robey dropped out of school to become a professional gambler.Missing: early life
[6]
Don Robey: Berry Gordy before Berry Gordy and J. Prince before J. Prince
### Summary of Don Robey’s Early Career, Gambling, Jobs, and Traits
[7]
https://www.houstonpress.com/music/don-robey-built-his-gospel-empire-with-ruthless-street-tactics-7373301
[8]
Black History Month: Houston's First Record Label Owner Don Robey
Feb 28, 2022 · Don Robey, a trailblazer, inspired Blacks to own independent record labels. Robey became the first black in America to own a record company.Missing: biography promoter
[9]
Sympathy for the Devil - Oxford American
Jan 16, 2015 · Johnny sat on a dresser and his girlfriend, Olivia Gibbs, a waitress at Don Robey's Matinee Club, sat with him. A pint of vodka circulated ...
[10]
Houston Record Mogul Don Robey Sells Duke-Peacock ... - KUTX
May 19, 2023 · In 1945, he opened the Bronze Peacock in Houston's Fifth Ward, famed for its raucous socializing and backroom gambling but also for launching ...
[11]
Duke-Peacock Records - Texas State Historical Association
May 27, 2013 · Houston businessman and nightclub owner Don Robey had become the personal manager of Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown in 1947 and felt that Brown's ...Missing: jukebox | Show results with:jukebox
[12]
Don Robey Built His Gospel Empire With Ruthless Street Tactics
Apr 21, 2015 · Houston's Don Robey turned Peacock Records into one of the nation's preeminent gospel labels by pursuing a ruthless business strategy.Missing: education negotiation risk-
[13]
The Glorious Gospel Of Peacock Records - uDiscover Music
Robey began Peacock Records in 1949 and for the next thirty years, recorded artists that would shape the global trajectory of popular music, beginning, most ...
[14]
Duke/Peacock/Back Beat Album Discographies
Sep 4, 1997 · In April 1953, Don Robey obtained full control of both labels and both were headquartered at the Bronze Peacock club at 2809 Erastus Street in ...Missing: expansion acquisitions
[15]
Peacock Records Article - Soulful Kinda Music
There is also a story about Don Robey's continued dabbling in gambling. He owned a racehorse called Sunrise County. Entered into a race in which the horse ...Missing: racket | Show results with:racket
[16]
Don Robey: Gangster of Worship | MichaelCorcoran.net
Jan 4, 2018 · In 1953, after he acquired full ownership of Duke, Robey started a gospel series on that label, including two releases by acts with ties to ...Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
[17]
Bobby “BLUE” Bland – Blue is His Middle Name For a Reason
Jun 19, 2022 · In variation of this theme, Robey also bought or stole songs assuming songwriting credits as well as accompanying royalties under the pseudonym ...
[18]
Big Mama Thornton and "Hound Dog" - CultureSonar
Sep 28, 2019 · Before Elvis' version, Big Mama Thornton had her own hit with "Hound Dog." And there are some powerful contrasts.Missing: unpaid royalties
[19]
Don D. Robey, Appellant, v. Sun Record Company, Inc., Appellee ...
Herman Parker, known as "Little Junior", was a blues and rhythm singer with a limited reputation in and around Memphis, Tennessee. On June 18, 1953, he and ...Missing: lawsuits | Show results with:lawsuits
[20]
Bobby “Blue” Bland | Rhino
Jan 21, 2014 · Working with Joe Scott – a band leader and producer – Bland recorded straight blues such as 1957's "Farther On Up the Road," which reached ...Missing: credits | Show results with:credits<|separator|>
[21]
Don Dedrick Robey Sr. (1903-1975) - Find a Grave Memorial
Don Robey died from a heart attack in his native Houston in 1975. After his death, the ABC-Dunhill Records including Robey's Duke-Peacock legacy was acquired ...Missing: cause life marriage
[22]
The Blues Foundation Announces 2014 Blues Hall of Fame Inductees
Feb 12, 2014 · Don Robey built one of the most formidable entertainment empires in the independent music business with his Duke and Peacock labels, Buffalo ...