Native American 78's on the Canyon label

[Zenger]

Well, since we're all being told to stay at home, I spent some time in my basement today going through some of the large lots of 78's I've bought over the years, and in one crate I found a plain brown shipping box of 10 records on Canyon, a label I'd never heard of anymore. The box they were in was the original one that the records were shipped in from the record company in Phoenix to the buyer in New Jersey. I can't read the postmark date, unfortunately, but the postage was $1.23 for 10 78's! Someone (the original buyer, I'm guessing) wrote "Navajo Records" on the box in pencil. The address label is printed "Canyon Records," too.

Each record is in its original sleeve, and none look like they've ever been played. Does anyone know anything about this label -- when it was in business, how many different titles it produced, etc.? Has anyone ever played one? They're so pristine I'm a little scared to; but dang, I'm curious!

[JerryVan]

I never heard of this label or these records, but do yourself the favor of at least listening to the Navajo recordings. Years ago, while traveling through Arizona, I listened to KTNN, the radio station of "The Navajo Nation", hence the "TNN" in their call letters. The Navajo language is the most bizarre sound I have ever heard. Then, if you're not already familiar, look up Navajo code talkers and their huge contribution to the war effort in WW2. Really incredible stuff!

[Curt A]

If you want to play them, don't play them on a wind up acoustic machine with a steel needle. Use an electric turntable with a light weight tonearm and appropriate cartridge for 78s, since they look like NOS records, definitely later than acoustic shellac... They might be rare, who knows, I have never seen one in the past 40 yrs., but there might be someone on here that is familiar with them.

[Curt A]

Canyon Records of Phoenix, Arizona has produced and distributed Native American music for 56 years.
Canyon was founded in 1951 by Ray and Mary Boley, who had opened the first recording studio in Phoenix, Arizona Recording Productions, in 1948. The Boley's involvement with Native American music began when Ray was asked by the Phoenix Little Theater to record a Navajo singer named Ed Lee Natay. Boley was so taken with what he heard that he recorded a collection of songs titled Natay, Navajo Singer, an album still in active release.

To promote the album, the Boleys took a booth at the 1951 Arizona State Fair. For most fairgoers, the recording was only a curiosity, but for Native Americans it was a revelation. They had never seen any of their music available on record before, and the album was well received within the Native community. Before the close of the fair, a Hopi jeweler at a booth next to the Boleys suggested they record Hopi music.

The Boleys took the idea to heart and soon began recording music from tribes throughout the southwest. Their new label, Canyon Records, was a sister company to Canyon Films, a company also founded in 1951 specializing in documentaries and commercial work.

They are apparently still around even after the original owners died - Mary died in 1991, Ray died in 2002.
http://canyonrecords.com/shop/
Samples: http://www.canyonrecords.com/shop/index ... nt-catalog

[gramophoneshane]

These are a great find, especially in such fine unplayed condition.
I wonder if the library of Congress has copies of these recordings, being of such historical importance.
If not, you really should think about donating them so they are properly preserved for future generations to enjoy.
I'm sure there's far fewer of these around than Edison's Taft recordings.