Era Records was founded by Herb Newman and Lou Bedell in March 1955 as a pop and rhythm and blues outlet.

Newman formed Era after resigning his sales position at Decca Records.

1 hit in 1956 with Gogi Grant's "The Wayward Wind," for which Newman wrote the lyrics.

Musicians with hits on Era include Ketty Lester ("Love Letters"), Larry Verne ("Mr. Custer"), Donnie Brooks ("Mission Bell"), Dorsey Burnette ("Tall Oak Tree"), Art & Dotty Todd ("Chanson D' Amour"), and The Castells ("So This Is Love").

In 1972, Newman added the RTV label which released the psychedelic album Mu.