Curb Records Celebrates 50 Years

Curb Records is currently celebrating its 50^th anniversary, making it longest operating record label with the same ownership. To mark the occasion, Curb is featuring 50 albums over its 50 year history on iTunes.

At the beginning of the 21st century Curb Records became the first independent label to earn Billboard’s Country Music Label of the year, supporting the careers of Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Jo Dee Messina, Hank Williams Jr., Wynonna, Lyle Lovett, Clay Walker, Trick Pony, and Rodney Atkins. 

Over its 50 years, accolades include:
     432 #1 Records (323 singles, 109 albums)
     1,514 Top Ten Records (1,102 singles, 412 albums)
     4,518 Charted Records (3,231 singles, 1,287 albums)

Success extends to the contemporary Christian genre, for which Curb serves as Chairman and Partner in Word Records, and has become instrumental in the careers of Natalie Grant, Selah, Plumb, MIKESCHAIR, Michael English, and Nicol Sponberg.

“We’ve been successful in large part to our employees, our artist roster, radio and a huge passion for music that inspires people across the globe,” said Curb. “We are forever up to the challenges of the next half century and look forward to expanding upon our success.”

Curb founded Sidewalk Records in 1963 while attending college, with success from the Stone Poneys (featuring Linda Ronstadt), the Arrows (featuring Davie Allan), and the Electric Flag (featuring Buddy Miles and Mike Bloomfield). In 69, Curb merged with MGM Records and became the President of MGM and Verve Records, producing, writing and managing the companies. He grew its Nashville-based artist roster to include Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, Hank Williams Jr., Don Gibson, Mel Tillis, Ray Stevens, and Eddy Arnold.

During the same period, Curb received Billboard’s Overall Producer of the Year Award, and acquired a BMI Award for writing Hank Jr’s first No. 1 single, “All For The Love Of Sunshine,” and another for composing “Burning Bridges,” theme song to Clint Eastwood’s motion picture, Kelly’s Heroes.

Curb established his Nashville office during the 80s, signing the emerging Lyle Lovett, The Judds, Don & Phil Everly, Sawyer Brown, Chris Hillman’s Desert Rose Band, Jeffrey Steele’s band Boy Howdy, The Bellamy Brothers, Ronnie McDowell, Hal Ketchum and The Righteous Brothers.

Curb’s publishing interests earned both a Grammy and Academy Award for his co-published title, “You Light Up My Life.” Curb has scored more than 100 ASCAP, BMI and SESAC award winning songs including Garth Brooks‘ “More Than A Memory,” the first record in Billboard history to debut at No. 1. Curb also published and released Lee Brice’s record-breaking “Love Like Crazy” and recently co-published “Crazy Girl” by The Eli Young Band.

In 2012, the label has released Brice’s Hard 2 Love album including platinum lead single, “A Woman Like You,” attained Rodney Atkins’ 7th No. 1 with “Take a Back Road,” and released Tim McGraw’s Emotional Traffic.

New projects still ahead in the coming year include new releases from Rimes, Andy Gibson, Wynonna, Plumb, Rachel Holder, Michael English and more.

Also in 2012, Curb revitalized Sidewalk Records, which is releasing new music from Heidi Newfield, Clay Walker, Morgan Frazier, Dylan Scott, and a duet featuring Tyler Dean and Ashley Gearing.

Mike Curb recently received a star on both the Music City Walk of Fame and the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame.