Gold Standard

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A short-lived label, run by Zeke Clements, with a tremendous amount of releases, it also appeared as AU Standard, and was related to the country gospel label, Cross & Crown.

Born in Empire, AL just outside of Birmingham, owner Zeke Clements was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and Louisiana Hayride. While most of the releases of the label are country, some releases include garage rock and rockabilly, including in particular the work of JC Raynor, from nearby Dora AL, who had relocated to Nashville. JC Raynor was the vocals for the garage rock group The Cavemen, as well released under his own name and the pseudonym "Boliver Shagnasty" on several comedy/novelty records, notably on Quartercash out of Lavergne. A song done by The Cavemen on Gold Standard was also re-recorded and released under just JC Raynor by Decca.

Zeke Clements also ran Blazon Music (which was also the name of his publishing company) and is associated with a single-release label called Delta from Monterey, TN, not to be confused with the Red Wortham label from the 1950s.

External References[edit | edit source]

https://www.45cat.com/label/gold-standard

https://www.discogs.com/label/270283-Gold-Standard-2

https://www.45cat.com/label/standard-tennessee

https://www.discogs.com/label/2424283-AU-Standard

https://www.45cat.com/label/cross-crown

https://www.discogs.com/label/1527138-Cross-Crown

https://www.discogs.com/artist/1013825-Zeke-Clements

https://www.45cat.com/label/blazon-tenn

https://www.discogs.com/label/574366-Blazon

https://www.45cat.com/label/express-nashville

https://www.discogs.com/label/723899-Express-Records-17

https://www.45cat.com/record/gs276 information on JC Raynor as Boliver Shagnasty

https://obits.al.com/us/obituaries/birmingham/name/wilgus-raynor-obituary?id=13741710 obit for JC Raynor