Blue Note Records is a famous
jazz record label, established in
1936 in
New York City by Alfred Lion and Frank Wolfe. It derives its name from the characteristic "
blue notes" of jazz and the
blues. During the
1950s and
1960s Blue Note issued a large number of influential jazz records by a large number of the finest players of the day, including jazz legends such as
Miles Davis,
John Coltrane,
Dizzy Gillespie, and
Charles Mingus.
The label became almost as famous for its striking sleeve designs as for the music contained on its records.
The Blue Note catalogue and name are now owned by Capitol Records.
See also: List of record labels