1960

During 1959, Cosimo Matassa was running the Rex label in conjunction with his studios at 523-25 Gov. Nicholls Street in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter. However, he admitted he was distracted from his studios and label by managing national teen idol Jimmy Clanton, who recorded for Johnny Vincent's Ace label of Jackson, Mississippi.

At the time the independent record business was reeling from the Congressional payola hearings. Many of the pioneering independent labels withdrew from New Orleans, including Aladdin, Chess, Modern and Specialty; even Lew Chudd's Imperial, under Dave Bartholomew, cut back considerably on its local sessions.

In 1960 Imperial resumes a busy recording schedule at the Cosimo studios led by Fats Domino. His Top 10 pop hit with Walking To New Orleans brings welcome fresh attention to Matassa's facility. In the fall, Joe Jones has an even bigger hit with You Talk Too Much (Roulette, originally Ric) at No. 3 pop; and session keyboardist James Booker has a Top 50 hit with the organ-instrumental Gonzo (Peacock) produced by Edward Frank, a former member of the Cosimo Studio Band. To cope with the extra business, Matassa brings in young engineers Skip Godwin and Bert Frilot as assistants. A new 3-track recording machine is acquired, giving the potential for basic stereo sessions.

In October, Matassa introduces a new sequential master series starting at 100 with record company clients allocated individual prefixes. The principal client in the last quarter of the year is Ace... and The Cosimo Code is launched!
- John Broven