Recorded In Hollywood: The John Dolphin Story

Legendary Los Angeles R&B producer John Dolphin was one of the first and most well respected and successful black businessman and independent record label owner. His contributions to the formative years of rock & roll are often overlooked. A mini-mogul who had nearly every facet of the record business covered. A former car salesman, Dolphin first entered the music business as a retailer — sometime during the Korean War. In 1948 he opened Dolphin’s on Hollywood, a record store on Vernon Avenue that remained open 24 hours a day to cater to the late-shift workforces necessitated by the conflict overseas. Dolphin’s of Hollywood record store even featured a DJ broadcasting over local station KRKD from inside the store’s walls, beginning with Ray Robinson and most famously including Hunter Hancock and Dick “Huggy Boy” Hugg. His marketing genius would serve Dolphin well in the years to follow, through his radio show he could instruct the DJs to play the records his labels produced. (His motto: “We’ll record you today and have you a hit tonight.”)

Dolphin’s of Hollywood record store soon became the most famous record shop in America and the Dolphin’s of Hollywood show the most popular black radio show in America. Recording artist appeared at the store and preformed live on-air interviews as well as greet and signed autographs for customers. Dolphins of Hollywood record store was the first business to open 24 hours even on Sundays, also first to offer “Buy One Get One Free” for purchases of any record in the store. Dolphin eventually operated a group of record stores, each was named Dolphin’s of Hollywood. Despite the fact that the main store, and the first to use the name, was actually located in South Central/Watts area of Los Angeles on East Vernon Ave, near the corner of Central Avenue. The name Dolphin’s of Hollywood was arise from the fact that Hollywood wouldn’t let any blacks own or operate any businesses in Hollywood, so this was Dolphin’s way bringing Hollywood to the hood. On Saturday nights about midnight there would be 500 plus people all outside dancing in the street in front of the Dolphin’s of Hollywood record shop.

The creator and innovator of the crossover music concept he knew white teenagers loved black music. He went on white radio station KRKD and played a black music format, marketing black music to whites. White kids would pack the Dolphin’s of Hollywood record shop in the all black neighborhood of Watts, nightly. Dolphin hired a white deejay the most famous Dick “Huggy Boy” Hugg, who drew white teenagers to the shop in ever increasing numbers. Dolphin’s of Hollywood radio show featuring Huggy Boy as deejay was the first to play and break the song “Earth Angel” by the Penguins and within weeks of its release it shot to the top of the charts. Artist would appear at Dolphin’s of Hollywood record shop for in-store promotion, artist such as Billie Holiday, Lionel Hampton, Sarah Vangh, Little Richard, James Brown “the Godfather of Soul”, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Quincy Jones, B.B. King, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Ike and Tina Turner, Fifth Dimension, Solomon Burke just to name a few.

John Dolphin was the epitome of the record business hustler, a big man with a big cigar, and big talk. He would go on an mount several small record labels, a few with appropriately inspired names revealing Dolphin’s penchant for making money above all else: Cash, Money, Lucky, and Recorded in Hollywood Records. John Dolphin did not typical pay any royalties to artist or groups because he purchased “all rights” to product he made one payment deals, he bought “all right” on his deals, all cash. Dolphin’s empire flourished he was the pioneer of the black record industry on the west coast and was one of the first black independent record label owners.

On February 2, 1958, Percy Ivy, a disgruntled wanna-be singer/songwriter went to John Dolphin’s Record company office in an attempt to hustle John Dolphin out of some money and/or taped music recordings, shot Dolphin dead behind the desk of his Hollywood office. The murder was witnessed by a group of white kids including future session drummer Sandy Nelson and latter-day Beach Boy Bruce Johnston – who’d traveled to South Central in the hopes of interesting Dolphin in their songs. The shop was then ran by Dolphin’s assistant, Rudy Ray Moore who you might know as Dolemite, and his widow, Ruth Dolphin. Ruth Dolphin later reactivated Money Records, which would serve as a springboard for the great soul chanteuse Bettye Swann and her 1967 smash hit single, “Make Me Yours” #1 Billboard R& B chart was released on Money Record.

Hot New Video Coming Soon!!!

Universal Records artist gets endorsed by R&b singer Chris Tian with a photo at the Grammy Pre-Party in Beverly Hills. The artists were on the red carpet at the Paley Centre on Saturday night. Tian gets a snapshot of H. Smoove.

Chris also interviews Hollwood Smoove on UrbanMusicBuzz about his latest hit song, “Do The Mac” which is distributed by Bungalo / Universal Records

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40 Bars

Indica Sativa

I’m On

On My G Shit

Gin & Juice

Hollywood Is You Ready

Why Y’all Hatin’

What The Fuk Is Dat

Still In Da Hood

Real Rap

P.L.G.

I’m Gone

BET’s “LA 106 & Park” 10 Year Anniversary Celebration at Hollywood and Highland – Arrivals
October 7, 2010 – Hollywood, CA, USA

Smoove

Media Mall

Thumbplay

Boost Mobile

Sprint

Verizon

Rio

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Yo What Up,

This is Hollywood Smoove bringing yall my new dance the ‘Mac Walk’, introduced by my new single “Do the MAC”. And I’m having a contest for the best Mac Walk and the winner gets $500. This is what I want yall to do:

• Go download “Do the MAC” on Itunes, Amazon or click on the direct links below.

• Video tape yourself, your crew, your friends, your parents, your child, whoever…getting their MAC WALK on to my song “Do the MAC” and post it on youtube.

• Submit your youtube video link and email address so I can check it out.

I’ll post it up on my site and pick 1 winner every month starting in September.

So if you don’t know the dance go check out the “Do The MAC” music video  also check out the MAC Walkin video montage that breaks it down even more; Mac Walkin is meant for everybody boy, girl, old, young…it’s easy! Even if you can’t dance you can Mac Walk; just put your swag on it. It’s not your regular 2-step it’s a new step. I Hollywood Smoove personally will deliver the $500 check to the winner (wherever you live). Go check out the video and I’ll be in touch, Holla at’cha mac.

Hollywood Smoove

.: to watch video submissions click here :.

OFFICIAL SONG DOWNLOADS

Do The Mac on Itunes

Do The Mac on Amazon

“DO THE MAC ” OFFICIAL VIDEO

“DO THE MAC” DIRECTORS CUT VIDEO

“DO THE MAC” VIDEO MONTAGE

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