Alligator Records facts for kids

Alligator Records is a famous American record company that specializes in blues music. It was started in Chicago in 1971 by a person named Bruce Iglauer. This company is known as an "independent" record label. This means it operates on its own, without being owned by a larger music corporation. Bruce Iglauer also helped start Living Blues magazine in Chicago in 1970.

The Story of Alligator Records

Bruce Iglauer began Alligator Records using his own money. He wanted to record his favorite band, Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers. His boss at another record company, Bob Koester of Delmark Records, didn't want to record them. So, Bruce decided to do it himself!

Nine months after the first album came out, Bruce left his job. He wanted to focus completely on Hound Dog Taylor and his new record company. Only 1,000 copies of Taylor's first album were made. Bruce also started managing the band. Other early artists on the label included Big Walter Horton with Carey Bell and Fenton Robinson.

In 1976, an album by Koko Taylor called I Got What It Takes was nominated for a Grammy Award. Soon after, the famous blues musician Albert Collins joined the label. Bruce Iglauer mostly worked as the main producer for these albums.

Grammy Wins and Growth

Alligator Records won its first Grammy Award in 1982. This was for the album I'm Here by Clifton Chenier. They won a second Grammy in 1985 for Showdown!. This album featured Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland, and Robert Cray. In 1991, the company released a special album. It was a collection of songs to celebrate their 20th anniversary.

Since it started, Alligator Records has released over 250 blues and blues/rock albums. They even had a reggae music series for a while. Many talented artists have recorded with Alligator. Some of these include Lonnie Mack, Marcia Ball, Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks, Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials, Eddy Clearwater, Sam Lay, Smokin' Joe Kubek, Roomful of Blues, Eric Lindell, JJ Grey & MOFRO, Lee Rocker, Cephas & Wiggins, and Michael Burks. More recently, well-known musicians like Charlie Musselwhite and James Cotton have also returned to the label.

Recent Milestones

Alligator Records celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2011. The company was doing well and reported making a profit that year. In January 2021, another company called Exceleration Records invested in Alligator. They became a financial and administrative partner with Bruce Iglauer.

In 2021, Alligator Records celebrated its 50th anniversary! To honor this, the Mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, declared June 18, 2021, as “Alligator Records Day” in Chicago. Also, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky spoke about Bruce Iglauer and Alligator's important role. She mentioned their part in the "American cultural legacy of Chicago blues music" in the Congressional Record.

Music Released by Alligator Records

Alligator Records started releasing music albums in 1971. They have continued to do so, mainly focusing on Chicago blues artists. They have released hundreds of albums across different blues styles.

Blues Albums

The company has a very long list of blues albums. These include many famous artists and classic blues recordings. Some of their early blues albums include Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers by Hound Dog Taylor, Big Walter Horton with Carey Bell by Big Walter Horton, and The Son Seals Blues Band by Son Seals. They have continued to release new blues music for over 50 years.

Reggae Albums

For a time, Alligator Records also released reggae music. They had a series of reggae albums. Some of the artists featured in this series included Black Slate, Mighty Diamonds, and Mutabaruka.

See also

In Spanish: Alligator Records para niños

• List of record labels
• Chicago record labels
• Mutabaruka