Cadet Records

Cadet Records was an American record label that began as Argo Records in 1955 as the jazz subsidiary of Chess Records. Argo changed its name in 1965 to Cadet to avoid confusion with the similarly named label in the UK. Cadet stopped releasing records around 1974, when its artists were moved to Chess.

Over its nearly 20-year lifespan, Cadet released more than 500 albums, establishing itself as a major force in soul-jazz and jazz-funk. The label's commercial peak came during 1965-1969, when pianist Ramsey Lewis became its most successful artist with hits like "Wade in the Water" (1966), while key producers and arrangers such as Esmond Edwards, Richard Evans, and Charles Stepney shaped its distinctive sound

There was also Cadet Concept Records, for rock and more adventurous music, such as the Rotary Connection, and the experimental psychedelic Electric Mud album by Muddy Waters. The label had a Top 20 hit in 1968 with the single "Pictures of Matchstick Men" by the British band Status Quo through a licensing arrangement with Pye Records in London. A St. Louis band known as The Truth a.k.a. The Acid Sette were signed and recorded for this label under the guidance of Abner Spector.

Notable Cadet releases included Dorothy Ashby's influential harp-jazz album Afro-Harping (1968), Etta James' Tell Mama (1967), and Terry Callier's soul-folk recordings Occasional Rain and What Color Is Love (1972). The label's parent company Chess Records was sold to GRT Corporation in 1969, which led to Cadet's gradual decline and eventual closure

The masters are now owned by Universal Music.