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.