# Kangaroo Records

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{{Short description|American record label established in 1958}}
'''Kangaroo Records''' was an American record label established in 1958 in [Houston, Texas](/source/Houston%2C_Texas) by co-founders '''Henry Hayes''' and '''M.L. Young'''.<ref name="hay">{{Cite book |last1=Bradley |first1=Andy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XsvWyg1u0UwC&q=%22kangaroo+records%22+hayes&pg=PA83 |title=House of Hits: The Story of Houston's Gold Star/SugarHill Recording Studios |last2=Wood |first2=Roger |date=March 1, 2010 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=9780292783249 |via=Google Books}}</ref> It was an independent label and recorded at [Gold Star Studio](/source/SugarHill_Recording_Studios) in Houston.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xAUJAQAAMAAJ&q=%22kangaroo+records%22|title=Down in Houston: Bayou City blues|first1=Charles Roger|last1=Wood|first2=James|last2=Fraher|date=April 1, 2003|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=9780292791596|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Bradley |first1=Andy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=22WxDAAAQBAJ&q=%22henry+hayes%22+sax&pg=PA82 |title=House of Hits: The Story of Houston's Gold Star/SugarHill Recording Studios |last2=Wood |first2=Roger |date=April 1, 2010 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=9780292719194 |via=Google Books}}</ref> The label debuted the work of musical artists [Albert Collins](/source/Albert_Collins) and [Joe "Guitar" Hughes](/source/Joe_%22Guitar%22_Hughes), including the 1958 hit "The Freeze". Hayes was also a musician and played the [alto sax](/source/Alto_saxophone)<ref name="freeze">{{Cite book |last=Rubin |first=Dave |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0amzAiwBmOcC&q=%22kangaroo+records%22+hayes&pg=PA151 |title=Inside the Blues: 1942 to 1982 |date=January 1, 2007 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=9781423416661 |via=Google Books}}</ref> and recorded songs with his own band as well as backing other artists.

==History==
Henry Hayes, Jr. was born in 1923 in Dallas, Texas.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ZNfAQAAQBAJ&q=%22henry+hayes%22+sax&pg=PA371|title=Blues: A Regional Experience|first1=Bob L.|last1=Eagle|first2=Eric S.|last2=LeBlanc|date=May 1, 2013|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313344244|via=Google Books}}</ref> He worked as a public school teacher and lived in Houston's [Third Ward](/source/Third_Ward%2C_Houston). He was recorded on singles for various labels. Hayes and his friend Mel "M. L." Young started the Kangaroo Records record label together in spring of 1958.<ref name="Govenar2008-2">{{cite book |author=Govenar, Alan B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=68Re4trXKqoC&pg=PA223 |title=Texas Blues: The Rise of a Contemporary Sound |date=9 October 2008 |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |isbn=978-1-58544-605-6 |pages=223– |access-date=4 July 2013}}</ref>

Hayes had heard about Albert Collins from Joe "Guitar" Hughes. After seeing him perform live, Hayes encouraged Collins to record a single for Kangaroo Records.<ref name="Govenar2008-2" /> Collins recorded his debut single, "Freeze", backed with "Collins Shuffle", for the label at Gold Star Studios in the spring of 1958, with Hayes on saxophone.<ref name="Bradley">{{cite book|author=Bradley, Andy|title=House of Hits|date=March 2010|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XsvWyg1u0UwC&pg=PA83|access-date=23 June 2013|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=978-0-292-78324-9|pages=83–}}</ref> Texas blues bands of this period incorporated a horn section, and Collins later credited Hayes with teaching him how to arrange for horns.<ref name="BluesGuitar" /> Collins' instrumental song "The Freeze" became a hit.<ref name="hay" /><ref name="freeze" />

Joe Hughes first recordings were with Kangaroo Records.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jasinski |first=Laurie E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CE8xiT3pV6QC&q=%22kangaroo+records%22+hayes&pg=PT776 |title=Handbook of Texas Music |date=February 22, 2012 |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |isbn=9780876112977 |via=Google Books}}</ref>

Hayes was part of music groups known as the ''Four Kings'', ''Rhythm Kings'', and ''Henry Hayes Orchestra''.<ref name="hay" /> Hayes influenced other musicians,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E6U7AQAAIAAJ&q=%22henry+hayes%22+sax|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of the Blues|first=Colin|last=Larkin|date=April 28, 1998|publisher=Virgin|isbn=9780753502266|via=Google Books}}</ref> and founded several record labels over the years.<ref name="Wood 2003">{{Cite book|author1=Charles Roger Wood|author2=James Fraher|title=Down in Houston: Bayou City blues|date=1 April 2003|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=978-0-292-79159-6}}</ref>

==Discography==
* "The Freeze", Albert Collins (1958)<ref name="hay" />
* "Collins Shuffle", Albert Collins (1958)<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Greensmith |first1=Bill |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FPCVCgAAQBAJ&q=%22henry+hayes%22+sax&pg=PA348 |title=Blues Unlimited: Essential Interviews from the Original Blues Magazine |last2=Camarigg |first2=Mark |last3=Rowe |first3=Mike |date=September 30, 2015 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=9780252097508 |via=Google Books}}</ref>
* "I Can't Go On This Way" 
* "Make Me Dance Little Ant", Joe Hughes<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=La8JAQAAMAAJ&q=%22henry+hayes%22+sax|title=Living Blues|date=April 28, 2003|publisher=Center for the Study of S Southern Culture, The University of Mississippi|via=Google Books}}</ref>
*"Two Big Feet" and "Call of the Kangaroo"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/The-Freeman-Twins-Henry-Hayes-And-His-Orchestra-Two-Big-Feet-Call-Of-The-Kangaroo/release/18661075|title = The Freeman Twins, Henry Hayes and His Orchestra – Two Big Feet / Call of the Kangaroo (Vinyl)| website=[Discogs](/source/Discogs) }}</ref><ref name=hay/>
* "It Takes Money",
* "Stop Smackin' That Wax",
* "I Want a Big White Cadillac for Christmas", Joey Carr
* "Rock 'n' Roll Santa", Joey Carr
* ''Smackin' That Wax: The Kangaroo Records Story, 1959-1964'' (1992), compilation<ref>{{Cite book|title=Smackin' that wax : the Kangaroo Records story, 1959-1964.|date=June 5, 1992|publisher=Collectables|oclc=045536770 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|refs =
<ref name="BluesGuitar">Obrecht, Jas, ed. (1993). ''Blues Guitar: The Men Who Made the Music''. 2nd ed. Miller Freeman Books. pp. 246–259. {{ISBN|0-87930-292-5}}.</ref>
}}

==External links==
* [http://globaldogproductions.info/k/kangaroo.html Kangaroo Records singles numerical listing discography] via Global Dog Productions.

Category:1958 establishments in Texas
Category:Record labels based in Texas

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kangaroo Records](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo_Records) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo_Records?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.