Radex Recording Studios [Freeport]

Radex was a recording studio and record label owned and operated by Dexter Witt in Freeport, Illinois from 1953 until at least the 1980’s.  The operation started in Witt’s apartment but eventually moved to the 3rd floor of the Cheeseman building (now the Lincoln-Douglas Center) at 10 N. Galena Ave in downtown Freeport.  When asked about the name Radex, Witt said it came from the first syllables of "radio" and "Dexter." 

The label's first commercial release. an LP by the Embury Methodist Church choir, came out in 1957.  In a 1969 article in the Freeport Journal-Standard, “Witt estimates he makes approximately 10,000 records yearly under the Radex label from 40 to 50 masters.  Small quantity processing is done in the Freeport studio and large orders are final-pressed by RCA Victor.   Tapes brought in by individuals are put on the ‘Realm’ record label.”   The article added that Radex’s biggest rock and roll album was made by the Nomadds in 1965 which sold 1,000 copies.

By 1977, the studio had relocated to 217 W. Stephenson in Freeport.  Witt also sold and repaired stereo equipment at the location.  In 1980, Witt relocated the studio to 802 S. Chicago Ave in Freeport.  An article in the Sunday Register Star (Rockford) describes the new studio as “an ultra-modern recording studio in the firm’s fourth location, in the back of a stereo and electronics store Witt owns.”  Musician Dan Peterson was listed as the studio’s manager at the time.  The article mentions that “Radex can either record cassette tapes in the studio or cut a master record and arrange for stamping album copies elsewhere.”

It is not clear when the recording business stopped or if it ever did.  Witt continued on with the Radex Stereo business, with the final location being 890 W. Galena Ave in Freeport.  Witt passed away in January 2023 at the age of 96.

45s

CAT #	ARTIST	TITLE	DATE
R 65101	Marty Taylor	Only Yesterday / You On My Mind	1965
R 65121	Dave And The Squires	The Girl Of My Dreams / Ferry Cross The Mersy	1965
W 6641	Clark And The Westerners	You Don't Love Me Anymore / I Still Got My Soul	1966
R 6641	Marty Taylor	For You / The Girl I Love	1966
TF 68301	The Frost	Behind The Closed Doors Of Her Mind / Cool Jerk	1968
SM 6904	Shades Of Muroc	Give Me Some Lovin' / Green, Green Grass Of Home	1969
RTF 70121	The Fugatives	Green River / Last Thing On My Mind	1970
DSS 7106	Danny Schreck	A Day Will Come / Let It Be	1971
SLR 7108	Larry Rossi	You Taught Me To Climb A Tree / The Ballad Of Rocky's Kid	1971
SBRL 7201	Billye Raye Lankford And Larry Bull	Here Today - Gone Tomorrow / They Gave Me Away	1972
SDW 7202	Denny & The Westerners	A Little Bit Of Country / Let's Live For This Day	1972
SMCS 7207	St. Martin's Missionary Baptist Church Youth Choir	Have A Little Talk With Jesus / Til' I Met The Lord	1972
SDM 7209	Doug McQuay And The Country Acid	After Hours / House Of Blue Tear Drops	1972
AMUC 72091	Untamed Country	Folsom Prison / Easy Lovin'	1972
AMUC 72092	Untamed Country	Cab Driver / Yackaty Sax	1972
AMUC 72093	Untamed Country	Help Me Make It Through The Night / Sweet Inspiration	1972
SSF 7301	The Spiritual Five	He's All I Need / He's Comin' Back	1973
SSJC 7305	St. James C.M.E. Church Combined Choirs	We've Come This Far By Faith / Without God I Canoot Do Nothing	1973
SDO 7305	Don Bowers And The Outlaws	Child Of Friday / Bad Seed	1973
SCC 7308	Larry Cavanaugh & The Country Circle	Yellow Bus / Love Her	1973
STM 7403	The Misfits	I Believe In Music / House Of The Rising Sun	1974
SJS 7501	James Stinson	Thief On The Run / Keep On	1975
SCS 7508	Mike Sawvell (Southern Comfort)	Woman Leave Me Alone / She Turns To Me	1975
SGA 7510	Greg Anderson And His Orchestra	Waltzing With You / Copper Rings	1975
SST 7709	Tennessee Tailspin	She's An All American Woman / To Be Back In Your Arms Again	1977
SMB 7711	Mike Breese	Trucker's Heaven / Carter's Farm	1977
SLG 7806	Misty Lee And The Nashville Sounds	Help Me Make It Through The Night / Today I Started Loving You Again	1978
SKG 7806	Karl B. Goebel And His Town N' Country Boys	I Won't See You Tonight / By, By, Baby Good-By	1978
MLS 7905	Misty Lee	You're The Reason / I'm Not Lisa	1979
SH 8006	The Spiritual Harmonizers	God's Love / Stepped Into My Life	1980
TR 8006	Teazer	Mary Lou's Letter / Misery	1980
ST 8007	Tour	One Of The Bad Guys / Can't Take Your Love	1980
MA 8008	Monty "Cole" Atterbury	Clothes Behind The Door/The Bottle	1980
TR 8008	The Rhyme	My Biggest Problem / Makes Me Feel So Fine	1980
GD 8108	Country Line	Some Day Soon / Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground	1981
TJ 8302	The Jets	Detroit / September	1983
TI 8305	The Inspirations	Turn America Around / I'm Gonna Love You	1983
JN 8309	T.J. And The Jackson Nears	He's All Right / Cross That Separation Line	1983

This discography is a work in progress. Last updated on 12/4/23

LPs

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