Many generous people contributed their time, ideas, information, and illustrations to this project. If I have inadvertently omitted a few of their names, the oversight was unintentional.
First, I thank my old friends Rusty York and Bonnie Lou Okum, to whom this book is dedicated. Both are talented performers and pleasant people whose company I have enjoyed for years. I thank them for their patience and continued assistance.
Two other contributors were equally generous—Zella Nathan, wife of founder Sydney Nathan, and Steven D. Halper, Sydney’s nephew and the son of founding co-investors Saul and Dorothy Halper. Without their help and encouragement, I could not have started the book. They opened their homes and scrapbooks to me, and I deeply appreciate their trust and generosity.
I also thank librarian Brian Powers and musician Elliot Ruther for their efforts to restore King’s luster. Brian’s own research is important, and throughout this project I have appreciated his enthusiasm, good humor, and advice. Elliot has helped organize events that have placed King Records back in the news, and he continues to promote Cincinnati’s important place in the nation’s musical history.
As usual, my deep appreciation and thanks go to my wife and line editor, Cheryl Bauer, for her expert eye, and to Melissa Basilone and John Pearson, my Arcadia Publishing editor and publisher, respectively. All three made the job a pleasure.
Others who helped include Lee Hay of WVXU Radio, Frank Weimann, Steve Lake, Darren Blase, Rick Kennedy, Toby Aydelott, Bob Snyder, Fred Masotti, Charles Spurling, Carl Edmondson, Bob Armstrong, Mike Banks, Shad O’Shea, Donna Newman, Deborah Delmore, Dick Swaim, Steve Rosen, David Meyers, and Liz Dufour and Ron Wild, my former colleagues at the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Finally, I am indebted to Annette Meurer and Barbara Hudson of Joseph-Beth Booksellers for their continued support of my books—and those of so many other writers.