Imperial Records, Part 3 - 1951-52. Imperial Records was a major player among the indie labels of the late 1940s and the entirety of the 1950s. Started in Los Angeles in 1946 by Lew Chudd, a Canadian raised in Harlem, Imperial began filling the ethnic and cultural voids left by the majors at the time. Chudd knew there was a large market for Latino Music in America, so he headed to Mexico City and recorded some Mexican jump bands that sold very well. He then included square dance records which also racked up sales as now square dances could be held without callers. He began recording Rhythm & Blues in 1947 and by '49, he had hired Dave Bartholomew to scout talent in fertile New Orleans.

Jesse “Chuy” Varela welcomes Rhonda Sauce to Jazz In The Afternoon to talk about her new EP, “Some Other Place”, and upcoming performance at the San Francisco International Arts Festival. Rhonda Sauce is a distinctive voice in the Bay Area’s jazz scene, celebrated for her expressive vocals, genre‑blending approach, and ability to connect deeply with audiences through both intimate and bold performances. Her work invites listeners into a world where jazz is not confined to tradition but is a living, evolving art form.