Concord Music Acquires HighTone and Bandit Records

Concord Bicycle Music is pleased to announce it has acquired the catalog of prized independent Americana, folk and blues label HighTone Records and, in a separate transaction, the recorded music assets of Bandit Records, the late George Jones’ label imprint.

The HighTone catalog, which was obtained from Shout! Factory, includes over 350 master recordings from renowned artists such as Buddy Miller, The Blasters, Dave Alvin, Joe Ely, Dick Dale, Robert Cray, Joe Lewis Walker, Gary Stewart, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Rosie Flores, Tom Russell, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Dale Watson and many others.

Founded in Oakland, CA in 1983 by Bruce Bromberg and Larry Sloven, HighTone quickly became a home for the early 80’s burgeoning west coast underground roots music scene when its first release, bluesman Robert Cray’s Bad Influence, was a surprise hit and went on to sell over a million copies. Expanding rapidly, HighTone released a series of superb blues, folk, rock and country albums while carving out a niche in the roots music style that would become known as Americana. HighTone also houses imprints including Testament Records and Highwater Blues & Gospel that specializes in American roots music such as country, rockabilly, western swing, blues, and gospel.


In a separate transaction, Concord Bicycle Music acquired the recorded music assets of Bandit Records, the label imprint of Country Music Hall of Fame inductee George Jones. The 140+ song catalog, obtained from Nancy Jones, includes several late period Jones album masters such as 2001’s The Rock, 2005’s The Gospel Collection and Hits I Missed…And One I Didn’t, 2006’s Kickin’ Out The Footlights Again (with Merle Haggard) and 2008’s unreleased duets collection Burn Your Playhouse Down featuring Leon Russell, Ricky Skaggs, Keith Richards, Vince Gill, Mark Knopfler, Marty Stuart, Dolly Parton, Shelby Lynne and Tammy Wynette, among many others. The catalog also contains various Roy Acuff track masters and assorted George Jones compilations.

"Concord Bicycle Music is proud to be the new home for these fantastic and historic recordings,” said Steven Salm, Chief Corporate Development Officer, Concord Bicycle Music. "HighTone and Bandit represent an important niche in the American independent music culture and fit perfectly within our existing catalog.”

"The HighTone and Bandit catalogs exemplify a deeply rooted and evocative part of America’s musical heritage,” added Sig Sigworth, SVP Catalog Management & Development, Concord Bicycle Music. "We’re proud to add these stellar works to Concord Bicycle Music’s already extraordinary collection of country, folk, blues and Americana master recordings.”