Despite its western-sounding name, Banff Rodeo Records was not founded in the Rockies but emerged from Eastern Canada as part of Rodeo Records Ltd.—a label established in Montreal in 1949 by Don Johnson and George Taylor. The company relocated to Halifax in 1956, where it opened a recording studio, and later moved operations to Peterborough, Ontario, in 1969.
Launched as a sub-label in 1953, Banff became known for its broad and eclectic catalogue, featuring everything from country and cowboy songs to maritime folk, East Coast fiddle tunes, and regional Canadiana. Often sold in souvenir shops and department stores, Banff records documented the voices and sounds of everyday Canadians—capturing the spirit of both rural and coastal communities from coast to coast. This room preserves the legacy of Banff Rodeo Records, a truly national imprint in Canada’s musical history.
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