QRS Records

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QRS Records is a United States record label which produced notable jazz and blues recordings in the early twentieth century.

The QRS company began in 1900 as a manufacturer of piano rolls, and their record label was established in 1928 by Arthur Satherly, who had been an executive at Paramount Records. Clarence Williams was involved with them as Musical Director during the 1928 period. Among the artists who recorded for QRS Records were Clifford Gibson, Sara Martin and Edith North Johnson, as well as the preacher Missionary Josephine Miles.

The audio quality of the 1928 QRS records is below average for the period. There were no QRS records produced during 1929.

In 1930, a new QRS series was started (by the Cova Record Company), which lasted a short time into (possibly) 1931. Carl Fenton was apparently involved with this series. Where the 1928 QRS records were hot jazz, blues and gospel, this second series was the most bland commercial pop bands, all performing standard stock versions featuring little, if any, solo work.

The audio quality for this short-lived second series is also below average for the period and the pressing quality is even below the quality of the 1928 series. This second series was probably created to compete with the new crop of cheap, short-lived labels (Crown and Hit of the Week).

Is it not known where either of these separate QRS series were sold, but judging by their short existence, one must assume that they were intended as a store-specific type record label.

The QRS company continues as a manufacturer of piano rolls and music software to this day.