JOHNNY WINTER Vinyl Singles On KRCO Records

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KRCo Records, operating in the late 1950s and early 1960s, was a small, independent record label based in Beaumont, Texas. The abbreviation "KRCo" stands for Ken Ritter Company , named after its owner, Ken Ritter. This label was part of a vibrant era in Texas music, capturing the sounds of early rock and roll, blues, and country music that defined the region.

KRCO (Ken Ritter Company) was the recording label owned by Ken Ritter. Ken Ritter has been a Music Producer/Engineer, Ken's brother Gordon Ritter recorded at Jay Miller's under the name Rick Johnson to be released on his own Comet label. These recordings date between 1957 - 1959, a 3 records were released. One note of interest is that on THIS album, Eenie Minie Mo is stated as by Unknown, and it is actually a release by Rick Johnson (Gordon Ritter) on Comet December 23rd, 1957.

One of KRCo’s most notable artists was Johnny Winter , a young guitarist from Beaumont who later achieved international acclaim as a blues musician. Early KRCo releases by Winter, such as "Oh My Darling," "Creepy," "One Night of Love," and "Hey, Hey, Hey," showcase his emerging talent and distinct Texas blues-rock style. These records are now highly sought after by collectors, valued for their rarity and historical significance.

KRCo Records worked alongside Ken-Rich Music, as suggested by the "Ken-Rick" publishing credits on its records, which managed music rights and royalties for the label’s releases. This partnership reflects the do-it-yourself approach of many independent Texas labels during that time, which often operated on modest budgets and distributed limited runs of 45 RPM singles locally.

Though KRCo did not survive past the early 1960s, it played an essential role in launching careers and documenting regional talent. Its legacy lives on through its recordings, which serve as valuable artifacts from a unique chapter in Texas music history.

JOHNNY WINTER: Oh My Darling b/w Creepy 7" Vinyl Record
Oh My Darling (Johnny Winter)

KRCo 45 RPM record label of Johnny Winter's song 'Oh My Darling' with red background and black text.
KRCo 45 RPM record label for Johnny Winter's 'Oh My Darling'

Music Genre:

Doo-Wop, Soul, 1960s Texas Pop

Band-Name/Performers:

JOHNNY WINTER

Record Label Information

KRCo 104

KRCo

45 RPM
Ken-Rich
BMI-210

KRCo 104
Vocal
104-B

OH MY DARLING
(Johnny Winter)
JOHNNY WINTER

Creepy (Johnny Winter)

KRCo 45 RPM record label of Johnny Winter's instrumental song 'Creepy' with red background and black text
KRCo 45 RPM record label for Johnny Winter's instrumental track 'Creepy'.

Music Genre:

Doo-Wop, Soul, 1960s Texas Pop

Band-Name/Performers:

JOHNNY WINTER

Record Label Information

KRCo 106

KRCo

45 RPM
Ken-Rich
BMI-2105

KRCo 106
Instrumental
106-A

CREEPY
(Johnny Winter)
JOHNNY WINTER

JOHNNY WINTER and THE CRYSTALIERS: One Night Of Love b/w Hey, Hey, Hey 7" Vinyl Record

One Night Of Love (Johnny Winter)

KRCo 45 RPM record label of Johnny Winter and The Crystaliers' song 'One Night of Love' with yellow background and black text.
KRCo 45 RPM record label for Johnny Winter and The Crystaliers' song 'One Night of Love'

Music Genre:

Doo-Wop, 1960s Texas Pop

Band-Name/Performers:

JOHNNY WINTER and THE CRYSTALIERS

Record Label Information

KRCo 107

KRCo

45 RPM
Ken-Rick
BMI-2:25

KRCo 107
Vocal
107-A

ONE NIGHT OF LOVE
(Johnny Winter)
JOHNNY WINTER
and
THE CRYSTALIERS

Hey, Hey, Hey (Johnny Winter)

Photo Side: Hey, Hey, Hey
KRCo 45 RPM record label for Johnny Winter and The Crystaliers' song 'Hey, Hey, Hey'.

Music Genre:

Doo-Wop, 1960s Texas Pop

Band-Name/Performers:

JOHNNY WINTER and THE CRYSTALIERS

Record Label Information

KRCo 107

KRCo

45 RPM
Ken-Rick
BMI-2:18

KRCo 107
Vocal
107-B

HEY, HEY, HEY
(Johnny Winter)
JOHNNY WINTER
and
THE CRYSTALIERS