by songwriter Johnny Mercer, Los Angeles record store owner Glenn Wallichs and film producer Buddy DeSylva, the Los Angeles-based Capi- tol became a formidable force in country music early on. lts first country artist was Tex Ritter, followed by Jack Guthrie (cousin to Waady) and Wesley TuttIe. Following World War II, the label's roster took off as Jack Guthrie, Jimmy Wakely, Merle Travis and Tex Williams began to have major hit records.

Williams gave the label its first million-seller with "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)" in 1947. Capitol's original country producer was former big band musician Lee Gillette, who worked closely with: Cliffie Stone, founder of Hometown Jamboree and a Capitol talent scout and producer. Cliffie brought Tennessee Emie Ford to the label in 1949.

By 1951, Gillette moved elsewhere within Capitol. His friend, former Chicago radio station guitarist Ken Nelson, replaced him as country producer.

He produced classic records by Hank Thompson, Wanda Jackson, Jean Shepard, Sonny James, Ferlin Husky and Faron Young in the 50's. He also helped create the Bakersfield Sound of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard in the 60's. After Nelson retired in the 70's, Capitol used various producers, but continued to remain vital, mainly through the hits of Glen Campbell. Capitol's original owners sold the company to the British EMI organization in 1955, which still owns the label to- day. Though Garth Braaks began as a Capitol artist, a 1991 reorganization moved the label's country roster over to the newly re-activated Liberty label, also owned by EMI.