4 Star Records

4 Star Records was a record label that recorded many well-known country music acts in the 1950s. The label, founded after World War II, was home to singers such as Hank Locklin, Maddox Brothers and Rose, Rose Maddox, Webb Pierce, Cousin Ford Lewis and T. Texas Tyler, who all regularly issued records on the label, mostly as 78rpm singles.

The label was founded in 1945 by William A. McCall, Jr., Clifford McDonald and Richard A. Nelson. By November 1946 McCall was in complete control of 4-Star. Although record labels give a Hollywood, California address, the actual address was on 800 Western Avenue in Los Angeles until 1949, when operations were moved to Pasadena, California.

Besides country music, 4 Star also recorded jazz, blues, rhythm and blues (such as Ivory Joe Hunter) and Latin music recordings. Charlie Ryan recorded "Hot Rod Lincoln" for 4 Star.

4 Star was also known for bringing country-crossover star Patsy Cline to fame in 1957. Cline scored a country and pop hit with 4 Star, "Walkin' After Midnight." However, Cline later complained that she had many problems with 4 Star.

In the late 1970s, producer Joe Johnson headed up an organization that purchased 4 Star Records and moved all of its operations to Nashville, Tennessee. Johnson insisted on building state-of-the-art studios and bringing in the best talent available to run them. 4 Star hired successful record producer Steve Clark, who in turn brought to 4 Star a stable of talented artist and writers, including Barbara South, Debi Bass, and Joe Nelson.

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