John Dolphin (music producer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Dolphin
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Grayton Dolphin |
| Also known as | Lovin John, The Toast of the Coast |
| Born | April 9, 1902 Beatrice, Alabama, US |
| Died | February 1, 1958 (aged 55) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Occupation(s) | Record store owner, music producer, concert promoter, DJ |
| Years active | 1946–1958 |
| Labels | Recorded In Hollywood, Cash Records, Money Records, Lucky Records, Ball Records, Dolphin's Of Hollywood |
| Associated acts | Jesse Belvin, Sam Cooke, Pee Wee Crayton, Charles Brown, Lowell Fulsom, Charles Mingus, Buddy Collette, Rudy Ray Moore, Joe Houston, Scatman Cruthers, Hollywood Flames, Turbans, Turks, Maggie Hathaway, Ernie Freeman, Red Callender, WMA Soul Stirrers, Roberta Martin Singers, Percy Mayfield, Huggy Boy. |
John Grayton Dolphin (born April 9, 1902 – died February 1, 1958) was an American businessman. He owned record labels, promoted concerts, and produced music. John Dolphin started a very important record store called Dolphin's of Hollywood. This store was open 24 hours a day!
Dolphin was one of the first and most successful Black business owners in the music world. He helped shape jazz, R&B, and early rock and roll music. His amazing work is often not talked about enough.
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Early Life and Moves
John Dolphin was born in a small town called Beatrice, Alabama in 1902. His parents were Lewis and Elyce Dolphin. When he was very young, he left Beatrice. He moved to Boley, Oklahoma, where he grew up. Later, he moved to Detroit, Michigan. Finally, he settled down in Los Angeles, California.
A Career in Music
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Dolphin's of Hollywood Record Store
John Dolphin opened his famous record store, Dolphin's of Hollywood, in 1948. It was located on Central Avenue in Los Angeles. Central Avenue was a very popular spot for jazz music. Many famous musicians visited this area. These included Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, and Sam Cooke.
Dolphin's of Hollywood was key to the rise of R&B music on the West Coast. The store sold many records. It also hosted live radio shows with popular DJs like Hunter Hancock and Dick "Huggie Boy" Hugg. For example, the hit song "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" by The Penguins was first played live from inside the store. John Dolphin even asked Huggy Boy to play both sides of the record on the radio. He wanted to see how the audience would react.
The store had live DJs and its own radio show on station KRKD. This made Dolphin's of Hollywood one of the most famous record shops in America. Recording artists would visit the store. They would perform live on the radio and sign autographs for fans. Dolphin's also had a special deal: "Buy One Get One Free" on any record.
John Dolphin named his store "Dolphin's of Hollywood" for a special reason. At that time, Black people were not allowed to own businesses in Hollywood. So, Dolphin said, "If blacks can't go to Hollywood, I'll bring Hollywood to blacks." He wanted to bring the excitement of Hollywood to South Central Los Angeles.
Rudy Ray Moore, also known as Dolemite, started his music career with John Dolphin. He recorded for Dolphin's Cash Records label. Moore later became Dolphin's assistant. He helped run the record label and the busy store. While working there, Moore heard a homeless man tell funny stories. This inspired Moore to create his famous "Dolemite" character. On Saturday nights, hundreds of people would dance in the streets outside Dolphin's of Hollywood.
Producing Hit Songs
John Dolphin had his own live radio show and a recording studio. It was right in the back of his record shop. This made his store a big draw for music artists. Dolphin's motto was: "We'll record you today and have you a hit by tonight." He was very smart about marketing. Artists knew that John Dolphin could help them become successful. He could tell his DJs to play the songs from his own record labels.
In 1950, Dolphin started his first record label, Recorded In Hollywood (RIH). His first big success came in 1951. It was the song "Once There Lived A Fool" by Duke Ellington's singer Jimmy Grissom. Many other artists also recorded this song.
Dolphin helped create other national hit songs. These include "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz" by the Hollywood Flames. He also worked with many famous artists. Some of them were Sam Cooke, Jesse Belvin, and Charles Mingus. Dolphin produced many records under his Recorded In Hollywood label. He also created other labels like Lucky Records, Cash Records, and Money Records.
Making Music for Everyone
John Dolphin helped many talented Black artists become famous. Before him, their music was often hidden. He was a pioneer of "crossover music." This idea meant taking music by Black artists and having white artists record it again. At the time, much Black music was not easily sold to a wide audience.
Dolphin also played Black music on a white radio station, KRKD. He wanted to market Black music to white listeners. This helped Black artists "crossover." It meant their music started selling to a much larger, wider audience.
Standing Up for Business Owners
In 1954, John Dolphin organized a protest. About 150 Black business owners and their employees joined. They were reacting to unfair treatment. Dolphin's of Hollywood was selling more records than other white-owned stores. It also attracted white customers who spent money in the neighborhood.
John Dolphin's Death
John Dolphin died on February 1, 1958, in his office. He was killed by Percy Ivy, a singer and shipping clerk. Teenage musicians Bruce Johnston, Sandy Nelson, and Dave Shostac saw what happened. They were there to show Dolphin their music. After his death, John's wife, Ruth Dolphin, took over Dolphin's of Hollywood. She passed away in 2005.
His Lasting Impact
In 2015, a musical play called Recorded in Hollywood - The Musical was created. John Dolphin's grandson, Jamelle Dolphin, helped write it. The musical was very successful. It showed at the Lillian Theatre and later at the larger Kirk Douglas Theatre.
On July 28, 2016, the city of Los Angeles honored John Dolphin. A street intersection, Central Avenue & Vernon Avenue, was officially renamed "Dolphin's Of Hollywood Square." This was done to recognize his amazing contributions to the music industry and the city.
