King of Them All: The Story of King Records | Full Documentary | PBS

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:37:18 +0000

"King of Them All" is a feature-length documentary about King Records, the scrappy Cincinnati label that reshaped American music. Founded in the 1940s by Syd Nathan, a brash outsider dismissed by the industry, King dared to put everything under one roof. In a single building, records were written, recorded, pressed, and shipped — capturing performances with an urgency the industry giants couldn’t match.

The results were transformative. James Brown’s fiery soul, Little Willie John’s smooth R&B, Hank Ballard’s rock ’n’ roll anthems, and the Stanley Brothers’ bluegrass harmonies all came through King, together forming a catalog that rewrote the sound of the 20th century. What began as “records for the little man” became a cultural force.

King of Them All: The Story of King Records | Full Documentary

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More about "King of Them All: The Story of King Records"
The film itself unfolds like a listening session. Rare archival reels, hand-drawn animation, and evocative city imagery immerse viewers in both the music and the moment. Each chapter plays like a track, moving from King’s radical business model to the artists who defined generations, to the cultural barriers the label broke along the way.

Guiding this session are voices who connect King’s past to the present. Seymour Stein, who began his career at King before founding Sire Records, shares insider reflections. Country legend Vince Gill and jazz virtuoso Christian McBride testify to the label’s enduring impact, showing how King’s influence stretches far beyond its modest beginnings.

More than a documentary, "King of Them All" is a cultural listening session — a restoration of a forgotten legacy and an invitation to hear how one underdog label gave America its soundtrack.