Southland Records
Southland Records is a record label in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, that specializes in blues and jazz.
Southland Records was founded in 1953 by Joe Mares, a clarinetist and younger brother of trumpeter Paul Mares. He created the label after noticing the number of unsigned musicians in New Orleans. Mares recorded George Lewis, Papa Celestin, Sharkey Bonano, Nick LaRocca, and Raymond Burke.
Bands practiced at the label's studio behind Mares Brothers Furs, a company begun by his father, uncle, and grandfather. Sessions were recorded at concert halls and at TV and radio stations. In the 1960s Mares sold the label to George Buck and it became part of the Jazzology Records group under the control of the George H. Buck Jr. Jazz Foundation.Roster
