Jac Holzman talks about founding Elektra Records and his most notable signings

Jac Holzman talks about founding Elektra Records and his most notable signings
Jac Holzman talks about founding Elektra Records and his most notable signings

Jac Holzman talks about founding Elektra Records and his most notable signings

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Before there was a Merge or a Matador there was Elektra Records. The great American label recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, and its founder Jac Holzman is being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this month. Jim and Greg talk to Jac about launching Elektra as an independent folk label out of his dorm room in 1950. Eventually the roster grew to include every genre of music—blues, rock, funk, world and pop. It became the home to The Stooges, the MC5, Love and Queen, and, Jim adds, some notoriously difficult personalities. But, Jac insists no artist was too hard to handle. He did use caution when out drinking with Jim Morrison, however.