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Wilson Jenkins was a DJ (DJ Willie J) in the town of Agorie. He was very popular at parties in the area, often being overbooked. He and his cousin, Stokley Janus produced and played music for the parties and to sell. A friend of theirs, Jarred Warren, was trying to put an album together. Jarred asked Wilson and Stokley to write some songs for him. The two men agreed, producing nine songs for the album. Jarred tried to find a label that would sign him to a deal. He had trouble finding a label that would sign him. Most of the labels said that the music on the record was too much for the current audiences. Wilson and Stokley's music was too modern for that time. After getting discouraged, Jarred gave up. He gave the record to Wilson and told him to try to get a label to take it. Wilson did not want to go to a label. He got some money together and got the album mass produced. He sold the album at the parties he worked and out of the back of his car. People had begun to ask Jarred about his album. He did not really know what Wilson and Stokley had done, so he kept trying to figure what was going on. He finally went to Wilson and asked him what was happening. Wilson told Jarred what had been happening. Jarred laughed when Wilson wrote him a check for one-third of the proceeds from the sale of his album. That began a profitable partnership for the both of them. Before long, Jarred's album was so popular that people were going into record stores to purchase it. The three men had a problem; the record was not in any stores. That was a problem for Wilson. He, Jarred, and Stokley put their heads together and tried to find a way to remedy that. Jarred suggested that they start their own record label. Stokley laughed at the idea. Wilson said, "Man, we already got our own record label. Wilson B. Sho Records. We just got to find a way to get distribution for your album." They began searching for distribution, which they eventually found through Golden Sphere Distribution. After they signed the deal with the distribution company, Wilson B. Sho Records became official in 1985 with Jarred Warren as the first artist. Wilson B. Sho Records was moved to Hardaway, Maddocha. After setting up their office, they held a talent show to recruit artists. They discovered Configuration, Jaimee Hare, and Edwin Peterson. They only signed Configuration at the time, because they needed time to make money to sign the other artists. Wilson B. Sho signed an agreement with Jaimee and Edwin stating that the two singers would continue to sing at artist showcases until the label could sign them a year later. This deal worked out for both men and they were signed to deals in 1986. Wilson B. Sho has continued the tradition of signing only two or three artists each year, taking the time to work with each artist, giving them the full attention of the staff of Wilson B. Sho. Once Stokley was asked, "Why is the same of the label, Wilson B. Sho?" Stokley responded, "Well, the Wilson is Wilson's first name. The "B" is for my middle name, which I won't reveal. The "SHO" is short for ShoNuff. It stands for Wilson and Stokley Be Making ShoNuff Music. It is kind of a play on those words. We were ahead of our time with our music and we wanted everyone to know that we were." Wilson B. Sho Records continues to produce ShoNuff music, being ahead of their time. |
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