ers, including Cuoghi’s lawyer, Nick Pesce.[1]

Hi Records’ first big hit was “Smokie Part 2”, an instrumental by The Bill Black Combo in 1959. Black was a bbum player with Elvis Presley and a long time friend of Ray Harris. Founder Claunch was forced out of the label, selling his share in 1960 to Carl McVoy (Jerry Lee Lewis’ cousin), who had been involved with label since its first recording and worked with Bill Black. Willie Mitchell joined the label that year as a recording artist. He later went on to produce Al Green in 1968. Bill Black’s saxophonist, Ace Cannon, landed a hit with the single “Tuff” in 1961.[1]

Hi Records’ commercial peak was in the 1960s and 1970s, widely due to the innovative and highly successful work of Al Green.[1] Other artists on the label, including O. V. Wright and Ann Peebles, did not reach the same level of success. In 1970, when f