Excelsior Records was a  label founded by Otis and Leon Rene in Los Angeles in 1942.  The Rene brothers originally came to Los Angeles from New Orleans and were the authors of Louis Armstrong's theme song " Sleepy Time Down South".  At approximately the same time that Excelsior came into existence, Leon formed Exclusive Records.  Exclusive Records soon occupied all of Leon's time and Otis took over the operation and ownership of Excelsior. Both labels enjoyed considerable success.

Excelsior Records included among its' artists Nat King Cole, Jimmy Rushing, Johnny Otis, Gerald Wilson, Timmy Rodgers, The Five Blind Boys of Alabama, Lorenzo Flennoy,  and Herb Jeffries.  Exclusive Records had Johnny Moore's Three Blazers featuring Charles Brown, Joe Liggins and the Honeydrippers, Herb Jeffries, The Basin Street Boys and many others. 

Several years ago, V.S.O.P. RECORDS acquired the unsold masters retained by Otis Rene and his family.  The following release contains material originally released by Excelsior Records:

V.S.O.P. #121 CD  THE OTIS RENE STORY