Challenge Records (1950s-60s label)

For other companies by this name, see Challenge Records (disambiguation).

Challenge Records
Founded	1957
Founder	Gene Autry, Joe Johnson
Status	Defunct
Country of origin	US
Location	Los Angeles, California

Challenge Records was founded in Los Angeles in 1957 by cowboy singer Gene Autry and former Columbia Records A&R representative Joe Johnson. Autry's involvement with the label was short lived as he sold his interest to the remaining partners in October 1958. The label's first success came with instrumental group the Champs, who had their biggest hit in 1958 with "Tequila". They also had a series of hits with pop singer Jerry Wallace ("Primrose Lane") and country singer Wynn Stewart ("Wishful Thinking"). Other recording artists with the label included Jan and Dean, Gary Usher, the Knickerbockers, and singer-songwriter Jerry Fuller. The first Challenge label was blue with silver print, followed after the first half dozen releases by a short-lived light-blue label with red print, then a maroon-colored label with silver print. Finally, around late 1959, the company issued their singles on a green label with silver print. Early Challenge Records releases contained a crest above the Challenge logo with the letters "G A" symbolizing Gene Autry's ownership interest. They had a sublabel called- Jackpot Records

The company went out of business in the late 1960s. Sony/ATV Music Publishing owns the catalog today.

Challenge Records artists

• Bobby Austin
• Marty Balin
• The Brogues
• The Champs
• Huelyn Duvall
• Jan Howard
• Jan & Dean
• Johnny & Jonie
• The Knickerbockers
• Baker Knight
• The Kuf-Linx
• Donna Loren
• Darnell Miller
• Bob Morris
• Willie Nelson
• The Peanut Butter Conspiracy
• We The People
• Wynn Stewart
• Gene Vincent
• Jerry Wallace
• The Falling Leaves
• The Four Teens
• Dave Burgess
• Dean Beard
• Kip Tyler And The Flips
• Kip Tyler
• George W. Weston

See also

• List of record labels
• Challenge Records

External links

• Challenge discography at Discogs