02 Oct
851: King Records is founded in Cincinnati in 1943
In 1943, Syd Nathan started King Records in Cincinnati, specializing mostly in country music. At the time, country music was still referred to by many people as “hillbilly music,” which Nathan incorporated into King’s tagline, “If it’s a King, It’s a Hillbilly — If it’s a Hillbilly, it’s a King.” Recognizing a void in the labels that were putting out Rhythm and Blues music after World War II, King began an R&B label, calling it Queen Records.
The King/Federal/DeLuxe Records story
http://www.history-of-rock.com/king_records.htm