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  • Oral History

Colonel Jim Wilson

February 17, 1983 OHC329 51 min.
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Biography


Music industry executive. Full name: James T. Wilson. Sales and promotion executive with King Records, 1949-1965; Starday Records, mid-1960s; and Starday-King Records, late 1960s-early 1970s.

Interview Summary

1983 February 17
(51 minutes)
Music industry executive “Colonel” Jim Wilson talks about the development of the record distribution industry, focusing on his experiences in Detroit. Discussion includes his childhood and early musical interests; his education and career background; his start in the music business; comments on record stores of the late 1940s and early 1950s; early record distribution methods; and comments on the major vs. independent record labels.