The US release schedule followed with a series of rock'n'roll acts, notably Charlie Gracie and the Jodimars (formerly Bill Haley’s backing group, the publishing arm of Kassner Music having earlier bought rights to the song "Rock Around The Clock").
[4] Encouraged by the success of Kassner Music’s publishing business with the signing of Ray Davies of the Kinks, the UK label, President Records Ltd., was launched in the summer of 1966 to pick up on the developing trend in the music business of popular groups and singers who wrote their own material, centring on the scene in London at the time.
[4] Early highlights of the UK label included harmony group the Symbols, who broke through with covers of "Bye Bye Baby" and "The Best Part of Breaking Up", and Felice Taylor, whose top 20 UK chart hit "I Feel Love Comin On", licensed in from US label Mustang Records, represented a first success for songwriter and arranger Barry White.
[6] The Equals scored two more top ten hits on President with "Viva Bobby Joe" and "Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys".
President was also successful with a series of top 30 hits by Welsh vocalist Dorothy Squires, who charted with "For Once in My Life", "Till" and "My Way".
[7] In addition many psychedelic pop records released by President in the late 1960s have become collectable, notably Hat and Tie's "Finding It Rough", and Rhubarb Rhubarb's "Rainmaker";[8] latter day mod/sixties club favourites such as Watson T. Browne & the Explosive's "I Close My Eyes", and Lloyd Alexander Real Estate Band's "Whatcha Gonna Do", featuring future members of the progressive rock band Audience;[9] and "Pawnbroker Pawnbroker" by the songwriter turned performer Barbara Ruskin.
[15] The label imprint subsequently became a respected player on the Northern Soul scene with UK releases of records such as Bob & Earl's "My Little Girl", Ray Merrell's "Tears Of Joy" and Donald Height's "Three Hundred And Sixty-Five Days".
Within a few months "Rock Your Baby" by George McCrae went to number 1 in the UK in July 1974, with a further six chart hits following over the next two years.
[18] The label had successfully crossed over from the clubs to the mainstream as with just these two acts alone President commanded 5% of the UK singles market at the time, on a par with the major MCA Records.
As mentioned by Record Retailer in the 11 June issue, the single was Kilimanjaro by Trinidadian singer, Jon Sands who was connected to Premonition Music.
[24] It was written in the 11 June 1969 edition of Record Retailer that the Crystal label would serve as an outlet for music producer Jack Price.
[25] Also in 1969, two songs, "Without Your Love" and "So Many Times" that jack Price produced for Jimmy Cassidy were released on the single Crystal CR 7003.
Some of the releases include " Sweet Happiness" bw "Lady Luck" by Clem Curtis & The Foundations, "Friday Night (Pay Day!)"
The label increased its activities again in 1984, when a chance meeting between Edward Kassner’s son, David, who had joined the business in 1972, and American producer Tommy Boyce heralded the next term for President.
Boyce’s idea was to start a label with its own studio and an all-star line up of established rock artists.
[citation needed] During the late 1980s President did good business with the albums made by Ray Fenwick as Forcefield, featuring, by turns, vocals from Pete Prescott, Tony Martin (Black Sabbath) and Graham Bonnet (Rainbow).
Recent placements of President masters have included Millie Foster "Love Wheel" on ABC TV show Pan-Am and in an online advertisement for shoe manufacturer Stuart Weitzman, and Yellow Taxi "Anna Laura Lee" in independent French film release Comment j'ai détesté les maths.