The Rich-R-Tone Story

James H. Stanton

James H. Stanton

RICH-R-TONE began as a regionally based record company, catering to the tastes of people in a certain well-defined area, and never really tried to be anything else. Commercial considerations were by no means ignored, but love of the music seems to have always been a primary concern for the founder and owner of the firm, James H. Stanton of Johnson City, Tennessee.

Among bluegrass record collectors, RICH-R-TONE records are highly-prized acquisitions. Many of the most influential bluegrass groups started on RICH-R-TONE, such as the Stanley Brothers, the Baileys, the Saucemans, the Church Brothers, and Jim Eanes. Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper and James & Martha Carson also started on the label. 

The Rich-R-Tone Story