Label Guide: Imperial

Imperial Records was started in Los Angeles in 1947 by Lewis Robert Chudd and focused on the release of R&B, country, and Mexican music including recordings by such artists as Fats Domino, Frankie Ford, Ricky Nelson and Slim Whitman. In the United Kingdom, Imperial was distributed by London Records. Throughout the 1950s, Imperial was one of the primary labels issuing a vast quantity of R&B from New Orleans.

Imperial expanded its operations by purchasing Aladdin Records in 1960 and Minit Records in 1963 (having distributed Minit since 1960). Later in 1963 after Imperial lost Fats Domino and Ricky Nelson to rival labels, Chudd sold the label to Liberty Records. Under Liberty's management, the label enjoyed success from such artists as Irma Thomas, Johnny Rivers, Jackie DeShannon and Cher. Recordings by Liberty UK act Bonzo Dog Band and Kim Fowley were issued in the USA on the Imperial label.

By 1970 the label became part of Liberty's merger with United Artists Records, but was phased out shortly thereafter with its artists being transferred to United Artists. EMI acquired the Imperial Records catalogue with its acquisition of UA Records in 1979. In June 2006, EMI re-activated its Imperial Records imprint. All the EMI labels including Imperial are now part of Universal Music Group.