Constellation Records
Constellation Records was an American record label extant from 1963 to 1966. Despite only being in business for a few years, the label was described by the Encyclopedia of Popular Music as "one of the legendary labels of the soul era". Constellation was founded by Ewart Abner in 1963 after he was forced from Vee-Jay Records.
Constellation Records
- Name
- Constellation Records
- Founded
- 1963
- Founder
- Bill Sheppard · Ewart Abner
- Headquarters
- United States
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Documentary summary
Constellation Records was an American record label extant from 1963 to 1966. Despite only being in business for a few years, the label was described by the Encyclopedia of Popular Music as "one of the legendary labels of the soul era". Constellation was founded by Ewart Abner in 1963 after he was forced from Vee-Jay Records.
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gnd · 1038761239 · wikidata · Q18609797
In this article
Overview
Overview
His business partners included artist and repertory man Bunky Sheppard and investor Art Sheridan. The label's most successful artist was Gene Chandler. While it was a prominent releaser of Chicago soul music, it also released many singles from New Orleans–based musicians, as well as music in the genres of rock, pop, gospel, and blues. Constellation released approximately 70 singles during its time of operation, many of which were re-released on CD by Collectables Records in later decades.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Constellation Records • Founded — 1963 • Founder — Ewart Abner • Defunct — 1966 • Status — Defunct • Distributor — self-distributed • Genre — various • Country — United States
Artists
Artists
• Gene Chandler • Billy "The Kid" Emerson • Nolan Chance • Dee Clark • Lee Dorsey • Frankie Ford • The Freedoms • Wilbert Harrison • Sonny Holliday • Sandra Lynn • Johnny Lytle • Holly Maxwell • Bobby Miller • Roscoe Robinson • The Sheppard • Gerri Taylor • Carol Vega • Don Jacoby
Institutional history
Dated record
Institutional history
Explore 1963
The full dated record · 3 entries
1963
Constellation Records established.
1963
Constellation Records is recorded from 1963.
1963
Constellation Records was established or created in 1963.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- United States
Context
Primary material
Context
The circumstances in which Constellation Records stands. Established or created in 1963. Founded by Bill Sheppard. Situated in United States. Recorded as record label. Founded by Ewart Abner.
Documents and archives
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 1038761239, Constellation Records.
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q18609797: Constellation Records
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1."Constellation Records". Colin Larkin, ed. Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Oxford University Press.
References
Citations
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authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 1038761239, Constellation Records.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessauthority record
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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