Grand Award

Grand Award Records was a pop, jazz, and gospel music record label founded by violinist and conductor Enoch Light in Harrison, New Jersey in 1955.

Light used the liner notes to describe how the records were made and to advertise their importance by using words such as "acclaimed" and "approved by". The cover design consisted of a fake frame of black and white around a well-drawn illustration in the middle. Early ones carried the slogan "Great Music – Great Art". Most of the classical records had reproductions of European masters for the illustrations. The pop records had illustrations by American illustrators of the day: Tracy Sugarman, Elmer Wexler, Arthur Shilstone, David Stone. Among the pop records issued by the label are the Roaring Twenties series done by the Charleston City All Stars band conducted by Light. Paul Whiteman recorded for the label.

In 1959 Light formed subsidiary Command Records, and that October, sold Grand Award and all of its subsidiary labels—Command, as well a… More