1940-1949

World War II, Vinyl Records and the LP

1940   Production of records halted by the advent of World War II and the lack of shellac due to the invasion of South East Asia by the Japanese.The replacement of the base material was discovered from a plastic resin derivative of petroleum called vinyl

1940s  The first DJs emerge as entertainers for troops overseas. During WWII, persons armed with a turntable, a pile of records, and a basic amplifier would entertain troops in mess halls, spinning Glen Miller, the Andrews Sisters, and Benny Goodman. It was much easier than sending an entire band overseas

1943  The first V-Discs were shipped from the RCA Victor pressing plant in Camden, New Jersey

1944  Working tape recorders brought back to the USA from Germany

1946  RCA Victor releases the very first commercial vinylite record

1948  Columbia introduces the first 12-inch 33-1/3 rpm microgroove LP vinylite record with 23-minute play-time per side it also has a special turntable to play them on made by Philco

1949  RCA Victor introduce the 7-inch 45 rpm micro-groove vinyl single and compatible turn table.

1949  Capitol became the first major label to support all three recording speeds of 78, 45, 33-1/3 rpm

1949  In Jamaica, sound systems develop playing the latest in R 'n' B 45s.

1949 Todd Storz from the KOWH radio station sets up a Top 40