Challenge Records (1950s)

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Challenge Records
Founded	1957
Founder	Gene Autry, Joe Johnson
Genre	Various
Country of origin	US

Challenge Records was founded in Los Angeles in 1957 by cowboy singer Gene Autry and former Columbia Records A & R representative Joe Johnson. This is not to be confused with the Challenge Records that was founded in the 1920s.

Autry's involvement with the label was short lived as he sold his interest to the remaining partners in October 1958. The label's first success came with instrumental group The Champs, who had their biggest hit in 1958 with "Tequila". They also had a series of hits with pop singer Jerry Wallace ("Primrose Lane") and country singer Wynn Stewart ("Wishful Thinking"). Other recording artists with the label included Jan & Dean, Gary Usher, The Knickerbockers, and singer-songwriter Jerry Fuller.

The company went out of business in the late 1960s and the masters are owned by Sony/Tree Music Inc.