‘Papa Lou’ Krefetz was a pioneer of R&B music and one of the principles of Atlantic Records. He came to Baltimore and with partner Larry Dean they founded a record store. In 1949 a D.C. group called the Clovers were brought to Lou by D.C. record store owner ‘Waxie Maxie’ Silverman. Krefetz became manager of the group who went on to become a pioneer in R&B music of the early 1950s and a major influence to the advent of rock and roll music.
Due to the limited local venues that black groups could play in the ‘50s-60s, Krefetz organized the “Big 10 Review” which traveled across the country and featured artists such as his Clovers, with the Moonglows, Ruth Brown, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Joe Turner, and many others.
In 1954 Krefetz briefly managed the Chords vocal group (“Sh-Boom”). He formed the Poplar record label based in New York and later became an executive with United Artists Records.
In 1966 he opened The Record Rack record store on West Lexington Street. Eventually the business expanded and he opened locations in Lexington Market, and East Baltimore Street.
Lou produced records by local groups on his own Rack Records label (Diane & the Ravenettes, Joe Graves, Fabulous Shalimars), and releases by the Goldtones on the Y-R-S label (named after the Your Record Shop store owned by Ernie Burston).
Krefetz passed away on December 20, 1981 at age of 74.
