Joe Von Battle facts for kids

Joe Von Battle (born Joseph Battle, April 3, 1915 – March 27, 1973) was an amazing American music pioneer. He owned a record store and was one of the first black record producers in Detroit, Michigan. This was between the 1940s and 1960s.

Joe Von Battle started his own music companies, called J.V.B. and Battle. He was the first person to record famous singers like Rev. C. L. Franklin and his daughter, Aretha Franklin. He also helped many other blues musicians, including John Lee Hooker, become well-known.

Joe Von Battle's Early Life

Joe Battle was born in Macon, Georgia. He trained to be a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He liked the name "Von" from movies he watched as a kid. He kept it because he thought it sounded fancy.

Joe married and had four children. He moved to Detroit in the 1930s. Later, he married again and had four more children. He got very sick for a few months. After that, he decided to work other jobs. He still loved gospel music.

Starting a Record Store

Joe worked in different jobs, including in car factories. In 1945, he got a chance to run a general store. It was at 3530 Hastings Street in Detroit. He started selling records from his own collection there.

His store grew and became "Joe's Records." By the late 1940s, he had about 35,000 records! Joe bought special equipment to record music. He set it up in the back of his store. He could also take it to local churches to record.

Making His Own Music Labels

In 1948, Joe Battle started his own music company, J.V.B. Records. He recorded sermons and songs from Rev. C. L. Franklin. Franklin preached at the nearby New Bethel Baptist Church. Joe recorded about 75 records by Franklin.

In 1957, Joe was the first to record Franklin's daughter, Aretha. She was only fourteen years old at the time. She sang the gospel song "Never Grow Old." Joe also started other record labels, like Battle and Von.

He recorded many blues musicians who played on Hastings Street. These included John Lee Hooker, Baby Boy Warren, and Little Willie John. He also recorded gospel singers and jazz guitarists. Sometimes, he would record musicians practicing without telling them! He would then release these recordings. Joe also had his own radio show. It was broadcast from CKLW in Windsor, Ontario.

Impact and Later Years

By the mid-1950s, Joe's Records was a very important place. It was a popular spot for black entertainers to meet. Many famous musicians visited the store. This included Berry Gordy, who later started Motown Records. Joe didn't really like the more commercial music that Motown made later.

Around 1960, Hastings Street was torn down to build a highway. Joe moved his store to 12th Street. He kept recording and producing blues and gospel music until about 1966. His recordings were then released through Riverside Records.

Joe Battle became very ill. In 1967, his store was badly damaged during big troubles in the area. Most of his records and equipment were destroyed. He passed away in 1973 at 57 years old.