Founded in 1943 by Sydney Nathan in Cincinnati, Ohio, initially specialising in country music. The label was one of the first to see the potential in black music with an extensive catalogue including James Brown, Jack Dupree and Johnny Guitar Watson.

In 1968, the label was sold to Starday Records and changed name to Starday King. It was around 1971 that Starday sold James Brown's contract to Polydor. Brown himself pretty much was the King label, easily grossing the most money.