The late Bob Shad began producing jazz and blues for long-forgotten independent labels in the late 40s then spent seven years with Mercury where he supervised countless jazz, blues and pop dates by such notables as Dinah Washington, Junior Wells, the Diamonds, the Platters, Screaming Jay Hawkins and Conway Twitty - in the days before It's Only Make Believe.
Shad was approaching 40 when he resigned from Mercury and went into business for himself, forming three labels - Time, Brent and Shad - in quick succession. By the spring of 1959, Shad had his first major hit with 'I've Had It' by the Bell Notes (on Time) and never looked back.
