Celebrating ESP-DISK' : 50 Years of Unimaginable Sounds – Imagined

Celebrating ESP-DISK’ : 

50 Years of Unimaginable Sounds – Imagined

This piece was originally published August 26th, 2013.

In 1963 a record label began on the 12th floor of 156 Fifth Avenue in New York City by releasing its first LP.

Bernard Stollman, a 34 year old jazz fan with a law background, had been working with some rhythm and blues and jazz musicians, helping them with copyright and contract issues.

Stollman had also learned the "International Auxiliary Language," Esperanto and recorded an album of songs and poetry all spoken in Esperanto, which he had hoped would further promote the language.

Bernard Stollman and one of his early ESP logos.

Titled, Ni Kantu en Esperanto, Stollman decided to self-release his album on a record label that was named after the language itself, ESP-DISK'.