Excelsior/Exclusive

Excelsior/Exclusive Los Angeles–based record labels begun by the songwriting brothers Otis and Leon René (“ When It’s Sleepytime Down South ” and “ Rock-in’ Robin ”) in the early 1940s. Otis René , the president and producer of Excelsior, originally formed “The All Colored Recording Company” to record the brothers’ songs. Excelsior was involved in the success of numerous acts, including Nat King Cole, Johnny Otis, and Jimmy Rushing. Leon René controlled Exclusive records, where he produced…