Nine months after the release of the first album, he stopped working at Delmark Records to concentrate fully on the band and his label.
Other early releases for the fledgling label included recordings by Big Walter Horton with Carey Bell and Fenton Robinson.
In 1976, Koko Taylor's I Got What It Takes was nominated for a Grammy Award, and Albert Collins soon signed to the label.
Alligator artists include Lonnie Mack, Marcia Ball, Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks, Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials, Eddy Clearwater, Sam Lay, Smokin' Joe Kubek, Roomful of Blues, Eric Lindell, JJ Grey & MOFRO, Lee Rocker, Cephas & Wiggins, and Michael Burks.
[9] Alligator Records commenced releasing LPs in 1971 continuing through to the present with a focus on Chicago blues artists.