The following is an interview with Sonny Lester, founder of LRC Ltd.:
How did you get started in the music industry?
I dropped out of high school and started a band when I was 16. I went out on the road, and haven’t been back since. In 1954, I went to work for the Edwin H. Morris publishing company. After that, I was offered a job at Columbia, then another at Decca Records. Then, in 1971, I started my own business.
Can you give me a brief overview of LRC and the history of the label?
We started as Groove Merchant Records in 1971, then changed our name to Lester Recording Company (LRC) in 1976.
What is your favorite thing about running LRC?
Freedom! You don’t have to answer to someone with an opinion that doesn’t know what they are talking about.
What are some of your favorite releases in LRC’s catalog?
There are so many. Most of the 60 records in our catalog have been continuously selling since 1965. It’s hard to pick just one. Some of my artists are Jimmy McGriff, Chick Corea, and Freddie Hubbard. One of my best friends was Buddy Rich. He was the biggest talent there ever was. He’s my favorite #1 artist!
What was your most memorable concert?
The Newport Jazz Festival with most of my acts. It was a party time!
What new things are going on with the LRC label?
We just started getting back into the studio. We have some new artists coming up and some new releases and we’re just about ready to record. We have a new series called Jazz On A Sunday Afternoon coming up.
What advice would you give someone starting their own record label?
It all depends on what kind of product you have. The product is everything. If you have a worthwhile product, it’ll find its way. If you have junk, it’ll go down the tube.
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Tags: Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard, Jimmy McGriff, LRC Ltd.
