Before the musical influence of Motown, there was Duke-Peacock, a Black-owned record label located in Houston, Texas, that recorded some of the biggest names in blues, funk, and gospel music. Part of the Doug Hanners collection, these publicity photographs feature incredible artists, including Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Junior Parker, and Johnny Ace. This collection is now available online for researchers to explore the history of Black entertainment and culture in Houston.
The label was originally named Peacock Records and was founded by Don Robey in 1949. Managing Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown at the time, Robey was frustrated by the lack of promotion, so he created Peacock Records. The label was a success, soon adding popular singers such as Floyd Dixon and “Big Mama” Thornton. By 1953, Robey gained control of Duke Records in Memphis, which led to the hybrid Duke-Peacock Records. At the height of its popularity, the label moved from Northeast Houston to 2809 Erastus Street, where it was used as a rehearsal and demo studio. In 1973, Robey sold his holdings to ABC-Dunhill Records based in New York, and after his death in 1975, ABC closed the offices on Erastus Street. However, in 2010 the Harris County Historical Commission dedicated a historical marker to honor the legacy of the Duke-Peacock label.
Check out the collection of photographs on our digital collections site linked here to get a taste of the variety of talent under the Duke-Peacock label and experience an important piece of Black music history in Houston.