Yazoo Records was started in 1967 by Nick Perls and Bernie Klatzko as an effort to make available the best in traditional Rural Blues and American music. Within the first three years of its existence, Yazoo had released definitive, vintage recordings for the first time of such icons as Blind Willie McTell, Big Bill Broonzy, Scrapper Blackwell and Rev. Gary Davis, as well as their historic and comprehensive album by Charlie Patton.
Although Klatzko left the label for other endeavors, under Nick Perls the label continued to grow by releasing some of the finest recordings of American music. When Perls died in 1987, Yazoo was purchased by Shanachie Records with the mission to continue first rate representation of Blues and early American music. Yazoo’s new 2000 series is now remastered in digital sound. The company’s current releases will feature in-depth representation of great, early Ragtime, Barrelhouse and Blues pianists of the first half of the century.
