These photographs, sound recordings and biographical essays communicate the range of Southern musical history and culture preserved by the Goldband Recording Corporation of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Goldband has played a key role in documenting and shaping musical traditions, tastes, and trends, both regionally and on an international level since 1944, when Eddie Shuler made his first recording to promote his band, the Reveliers.

In the half century since the first recordings, Eddie Shuler and the Goldband Recording Company have recorded--and in many cases have created--some of the South's most important and distinctive musical styles and sounds, including Cajun, zydeco, blues, rhythm and blues, rockabilly and swamp pop.