Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Leon and Googie René recordings
- Dates:
- 1924-1993
- Creators:
- René, Leon, 1902-1982, René, Googie, and Reicheg, Richard (1937-2021)
- Extent:
- 13.5 Linear Feet (536 discs)
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of Item], Leon and Googie René recordings, PA Mss 248. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection contains studio-recorded vinyl and shellac records, as well as lacquer home recordings, of songs performed by Leon René, Googie René, and other rhythm and blues artists associated with the Renés through their various recording labels.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Leon and Googie René were a father-son team who owned several Los Angeles-based recording labels - including Exclusive, Excelsior, Class, and Rendezvous Records. Leon René (February 6, 1902–May 30, 1982) was an African American songwriter, composer, and record producer of pop, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll music throughout the 1930s-50s. Writing under the names Leon René or Jimmy/Jimmie Thomas, his songs have been performed by singers and groups such as The Ink Spots, Guy Lombardo, and Louis Armstrong. Rafael Leon René (March 30, 1927–November 25, 2007), known as Googie René, was an African American musician, bandleader, and songwriter. A pianist and songwriter when he opened Class Records with his father in 1951, Googie began recording himself in 1956 under the group The Googie René Combo, which released singles on the Class and Rendezvous labels from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Julie Payne, January 2023.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-08-19 15:46:30 -0700 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Audiovisual materials must be reformatted for access. Please contact the Department of Special Research Collections in advance to request access.
- Terms of access:
-
Property rights to the collection and physical objects belong to the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at the UCSB Library. All applicable literary rights, including copyright to the collection and physical objects, are protected under Chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code and may be retained by the creator and the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns.
All requests to reproduce, quote from, or otherwise reuse collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB at special@library.ucsb.edu. Consent is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or their assignees for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of Item], Leon and Googie René recordings, PA Mss 248. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
- Location of this collection:
-
UC Santa Barbara LibrarySanta Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
- Contact:
- (805) 893-3062