Melodisc records was founded by Austrian-born American citizen Emil Edward Shalit (24 December 1909 – 23 April 1983) and his business partner Jack Chilkes.
[3] The company was founded in 1949 when Shalit was still living in New York City, with the initial purpose of licensing American jazz for release in the UK.
After Chilkes was replaced by Trinidadian Rupert Nurse, who became Melodisc's musical director,[6] the label also released rhythm and blues, West Indian, and African recordings.
[8][9][10] From the early 1950s, Melodisc started recording musicians in London, particularly at the Esquire studios in Bedford Court Mansions in Covent Garden.
[11] Melodisc was actively involved in exporting records from Britain to the emerging record-buying markets in West Africa and the Caribbean including Guyanese singer Terry Nelson (aka Halla Gala).
[2] From the mid- to late 1950s, Melodisc sought out Jamaican-produced records to distribute in Britain and made deals with producers such as Coxsone Dodd, Prince Buster and Duke Reid.
(Cedric J. Hayes, Gospel Records, 1943–1969: A Black Music Discography (paperback), Robert Laughton) Savoy 809] || LP: track 1.