James Bracken facts for kids

James C. Bracken was an important American songwriter and a key person in the music world. He is best known for starting Vee-Jay Records with his wife, Vivian Carter, and her brother, Calvin Carter. This record company helped launch the careers of many famous musicians.

Early Life and Starting Vee-Jay Records

James C. Bracken was born in Oklahoma in 1909 and grew up in Kansas City. He moved to Chicago, where he met Vivian Carter in 1944. Together, they shared a love for music.

In 1950, James and Vivian opened a music store called Vivian's Record Shop in Gary, Indiana. Just three years later, they decided to create their own record company. They named it Vee-Jay Records, using the first letters of their names, V and J.

Vee-Jay Records: A Music Powerhouse

Vee-Jay Records quickly became a very important independent record label. This means it was a large music company that was not owned by one of the biggest corporations. James Bracken not only helped run the company but also wrote some of the songs that were recorded.

During the 1950s and early 1960s, Vee-Jay Records released music from many popular artists. Some of these included Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Gene Chandler, Jerry Butler, and The Four Seasons. For a time, even The Beatles had some of their records released by Vee-Jay in the United States.

Sadly, the company closed down in 1966. James C. Bracken passed away in Los Angeles in 1972.

Songwriting Contributions

James C. Bracken was a songwriter for his record label. Sometimes, people mistakenly credit him for writing the song "Rock the Joint" by Bill Haley & His Comets. However, that song was actually written by Harold Crafton, Wendell Keane, and Harold Bagby.