Producer co-founded the famed Sue Records, one of the first and most successful African-American-owned labels in popular music. Born , he and partner founded Sue in New York City in early 1957 — later that year the label scored its first regional hit with the Matadors' "Vengeance," followed in 1958 by ' national Top 40 hit "Itchy Twitchy Feeling." A year later, formed the Symbol Records subsidiary — in 1960, notched his second Sue hit, "Psycho," while recordings by the Ray Bryant Combo, , and also established the label as a jazz hotbed as well. But the company's most important releases were in an R&B vein — 1958 marked the release of an early Don Covay single, "Believe It or Not," and in 1960, Sue launched the collaboration of with "A Fool Too Long." issued a series of national hits under 's hand, among them "I Idolize You," "It's Gonna Work Out Fine," "Poor Fool," "Tra La La La La," and "You Shoulda Treated Me Right." Symbol actually released the company's biggest hit, 's 1963 Top Ten smash "Mockingbird" — she and guitarist brother Charlie also issued a handful of well-received Symbol efforts. Other Sue hitmakers: "("That's How Heartaches Are Made""), ("I Can't Stand It") and ("Let's Work Together"). In 1972, issued his first solo LP, Built for Speed; Inside America followed four years later. He also continued operating Sue into the next century, although the label never again recaptured the commercial success of its '60's heyday. ~ Jason Ankeny

Juggy Murray

Top Tracks