About

Steel Town Records is a historical R & B label that has been unearth by film maker Kenneth Joseph in honors & dedication to music executive William Adams aka Gordon Keith born in 1939. He was the first person to sign a recording contract with the Jackson Five and release their records. In 1966, Gordon Keith and four friends founded Steel Town Records in Gary Indiana, with each able to manage, record and sign local talent themselves in and around Gary.

The quality of the music and dance scene was high in and near Gary. Keith states that each Steel Town partner individually discovered, signed and took responsibility and any profit for each signed individual or group using the Steel Town label as an umbrella to promote name recognition. Mr. Keith also points out that he had himself go solo as a vocalist in the 1960's because he wearied of the lack of discipline and commitment of so many of the young singers he sang doo-wop songs with. Therefore, he was not only looking for talent but talent with a disciplined professional attitude and commitment.

Gordon Keith recorded and produced four Jackson tracks on the Steel Town label in November of 1967. Most notable was the Jackson Fives' first single titled "BIG BOY", sung by Michael Jackson. He signed the Jackson Five to a six-month management and recording contract at the time when not one the numerous labels in the region would take them on. After he released "BIG BOY" in January the 31st of 1968 it played on the radio and sold regionally in the Chicago-Gary area. The Jackson Five recorded "BIG BOY" at Sunny Sawyers' recording studio on West 69th Street on the South side of Chicago which was the home of the vibrant Chicago Soul sound at the time and had many fine session musicians, song writer's and production studios.

The quality and potential heard in the "BIG BOY recording were such that Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records sought out Gordon and made a contract with him on March 5th to Actco, a division of Atlantic Records distribute "BIG BOY" nationally. Atlantic Records/Atco in New York pressed and distributed several thousands of copies of "BIG BOY" with the Steel Town label and Atco record sleeves. Many of these are still in existence as are the proceeding versions distributed in Gary. The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame and Museum owns a copy of one of the original "BIG BOY" /"YOU CHANGED records (Steeltown #681) It was on display there in 2010.