Okeh Records
Introduction
Otto K. E. Heinemann founded the General Phonograph Corporation (GPC) in 1916. GPC’s first record label was Okeh (named after the founder’s initials) in 1918. The Indian Head logo was selected because like the name “Okeh” it was accessible to everyone, even Indians. The General Phonograph Corporation was sold to Columbia Phonograph Company in 1926. Columbia Phonograph Company produced the Okeh label in many different colors (black, blue, red, and maroon) The Columbia Phonograph Company was then sold to American Records Corporation (ARC) in 1934. ARC dropped the Okeh label but when Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) bought ARC in 1938 it brought back the Okeh label and added the CBS “Note and Mic” logo to the Okeh label.
