Ralph Bass
b. 1 May 1911, New York, USA. A pivotal figure in the history of R&B, Bass began his career during the '40s, promoting live jazz shows in Los Angeles. He subsequently worked for Black And White Records, producing Open The Door, Richard for Jack McVea, but later left to found several small-scale outlets with releases by Errol Garner and Dexter Gordon. Bass also recorded (Little) Esther Phillips, the Robins and Johnny Otis for the Savoy label, and in 1951 became one of the era's first independent producers through the aegis of the Cincinnati-based King company. Armed with his own outlet, Federal, and its Armo publishing wing, he built an impressive roster of acts around Hank Ballard And The Midnighters, the Dominoes and James Brown, whom Bass signed in 1955 on hearing a demo disc at an Atlanta radio station. Although initially unimpressed by the singer's untutored delivery, King managing director Syd Nathan changed his mind when Please Please Please became a best-seller. Brown remained a Federal artist until 1960 but was switched to the parent outlet when Bass departed for Chess. The producer brought Etta James and Pigmeat Markham to his new employers, and in turn worked with several established acts, including Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Ramsey Lewis. Bass remained with the label until the mid-70s when its Chicago office was closed. He continued to record R&B acts, the masters from which were latterly compiled on a series of albums under the generic title, I DIDN'T GIVE A DAMN IF WHITES BOUGHT IT.