SEPHARDIC MUSIC:
A CENTURY OF RECORDINGS

Home Page	78 RPMs	Early Repertory	Modern Recordings	About	Appendices

Labels

Songs

Artists

Stores

N. African

Modern Discography

Bibliography

Me-Re

Discography

Label / Number	Artist	Title
Me-Re 6001A	Mayesh, Jack	Ven canario
Me-Re 6001B	Mayesh, Jack	Porque no me amates
Me-Re 6002A	Mayesh, Jack	No seas capritchoza
Me-Re 6002B	Mayesh, Jack	De tus lavios corre miel
Me-Re 6003A	Mayesh, Jack	Onde que tope una que es plaziente
Me-Re 6003B	Mayesh, Jack	Mostrame gracioza

History

These recordings bear Balkan identifying numbers (matrices) and appear in the Balkan catalog (see below), but were actually issued on the Me-Re label. The artist's own Mayesh Phonograph Record Co. released all his other recordings. These recordings were mastered in New York City in the summer of 1948 according to Mayesh's son, (Maurice) Jack Mayesh. (I believe they may date from earlier in the decade, see below.)

In New York, dozens of Greek-owned nightclubs on 8^th Avenue from 23^rd to 42^nd street served as a haven for Greek and Armenian immigrants – as well as Sephardim originally from the region. On-stage, Albanian, Armenian, Greek, Sephardic and other vocalists and session musicians all contributed to the flavorful melange. Several record companies sprang up devoted to these musicians and their audiences. According to one account, Me-Re was established in the early 1940s by Aydin Asllan (a poly-lingual Albanian) and the violinist, Nick Doneff. They soon parted company, with Aydin founding Balkan and Doneff founding Kaliphon Records. Whatever the (cross-) ownership among the Balkan, Me-Re, Metropolitan and Kaliphon labels, artists moved fluidly from label to label: 'Oud player Marko Melkon recorded for all four labels, while Victoria Hazan (see below) recorded for Metropolitan and Kaliphon.

Source: Joel Ackerman and Harold Hagopian, private correspondence.