Joe Von Battle

Joe Von Battle (born Joseph Battle, April 3, 1915 – March 27, 1973)

In 1945, he took up an offer to run a general store at 3530 Hastings Street, and began selling records there from his own collection. As it expanded, the store became Joe's Records, and by the late 1940s he had an inventory of 35,000 records. Battle acquired recording equipment which he set up at the back of the store with a piano, and could also take around local churches. One of his earliest recordings was “Hastings Street Opera”, recorded by "Detroit Count" (Bob White, c.1920–1970). He also established contacts and set up distribution arrangements with other labels, notably Chess Records in Chicago, DeLuxe Records in Cincinnati, and Savoy Records in Newark,

Battle set up his own record label, J.V.B. Records, in 1948. He recorded the preaching and singing of Rev. C. L. Franklin and his congregations at the nearby New Bethel Baptist Church. In all, he recorded and released some 75 records by Franklin, and in 1957 was the first to record Franklin's fourteen-year-old daughter, Aretha, on the gospel song "Never Grow Old". He also set up other record labels, including Battle and Von, and recorded many of the blues musicians who frequented Hastings Street, including John Lee Hooker, Baby Boy Warren, Louisiana Red, Washboard Willie, Little Sonny, Eddie Burns, Joe Weaver, Memphis Slim, One String Sam, and Little Willie John; gospel singers including Brother Will Hairston; and jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell. He was known for sometimes recording rehearsals without informing the musicians, later releasing the results. He also produced his own radio show which was broadcast from CKLW in Windsor, Ontario.

Battle became ill with what was eventually diagnosed as Addison's disease, and also increasingly suffered from chronic alcoholism. In 1967, his store was caught up in the violent rioting that overtook the area, and it and its stock were largely destroyed. He died in 1973, aged 57, from the combined effects of his illnesses.