Vivian Carter

Vivian Carter was a pioneering broadcaster, record executive, and co-founder of Vee-Jay Records. 

Her radio career began at Chicago’s WGES -AM after winning a talent contest. She later joined WJOB -AM in Hammond, Indiana, before moving to WWCA -AM in Gary, Indiana.  There she hosted Livin’ with Vivian six nights a week, presenting a mix of musical genres that included blues, gospel, jazz, and the emerging sound of doo-wop.  Vivian’s program was heard by listeners in both Chicago and Northern Indiana. 

In 1953, Carter and her husband, Jimmy Bracken, borrowed $500 to establish Vee-Jay Records, naming the label after the initials of their first names. While continuing her work in radio, Carter helped build Vee-Jay into a major independent record label. It was the first successful Black-owned record company in the U.S. In 1963, the company secured American distribution rights to The Beatles and sold more than a million copies of Introducing… The Beatles.

A pioneer in broadcasting and the music industry, Carter helped promote and preserve the sounds of many influential recording artists.

In 2026, she received a Legends induction into the Radio Hall of Fame in recognition of her lasting contributions to radio and recorded music.