King Records — James Brown's Label, Cincinnati

King Records at 1540 Brewster Avenue in Cincinnati was one of the most important independent record labels in American music history, and the label that transformed James Brown from an R&B singer into the Godfather of Soul. Founded by Syd Nathan in 1943, King was a fully integrated operation — recording studio, pressing plant, and distribution centre all under one roof — that released genre-defining records in R&B, country, and soul. Brown recorded 'Papa's Got a Brand New Bag,' 'I Got You (I Feel Good),' and dozens of other classics here.

Beyond Brown, King Records was home to Hank Ballard and the Midnighters ('The Twist,' before Chubby Checker's version), Little Willie John ('Fever'), Freddie King, and a roster that helped break down racial barriers in American music. Uniquely for its era, King recorded both Black and white artists and sometimes released the same song performed by artists of different races, subtly integrating the airwaves. The label's Brewster Avenue complex was a self-contained music factory that rivalled anything in New York, Nashville, or Los Angeles.

The original King Records building was demolished in 2007 despite preservation efforts, though the site is now home to the King Records Legacy project. A historical marker stands at the location. The surrounding Evanston neighbourhood in Cincinnati has embraced the legacy, and there are ongoing efforts to build a proper museum or interpretive centre on the site.