After working with Curtis Jones, Otis Spann, Mae Mercer, Champion Jack Dupree, and Eddie Boyd in the early 1960s, Mike Vernon founded the Blue Horizon label in February 1965 with Purdah and Outa-Site appearing within the following twelve months.Its first release was a Hubert Sumlin 45; other 45s by George Harmonica Smith and J.B. Lenoir quickly followed. Blue Horizons first album release was Doctor Ross The Flying Eagle. Working for Decca Records, Vernon produced blues acts like Savoy Brown and Ten Years After, and John Mayalls 1966 album Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton. From 1968 to 1970, Vernon produced almost 50 blues singles and another 50 blues albums by the likes of Duster Bennett, Johnny Shines, Sunnyland Slim, Bobby Parker, Furry Lewis, Bukka White, the original Fleetwood Mac, and Chicken Shack. During the 1970s, Vernon worked with Freddie King, Jimmy Witherspoon, Climax Blues Band, and Dr. Feelgood. In the early 1990s, Vernon founded the Blueside and Blue Code labels and produced Sherman Robertson, Jay Owens, John Primer, The Hoax, Eric Bibb, and Bo Diddley. He subsequently recorded Larry McCray, Beverly Watkins, and Jerry Boogie McCain. Vernon remains active in the new millennium, producing albums with Oli Brown, Dani Wilde, and Lazy Lester. He is currently working on a project with Spanish band Q & the Moonstones, as well as planning a homage R&B outing under his own name.
