You may not have heard of Knaptown Records, but the label left a significant legacy in Indianapolis. Knaptown documented the city’s early funk and soul scene and provided a platform for prominent local musicians.
Last month, the label’s founder, John Terrell, died. WFYI’s Kyle Long brings us this remembrance.
This transcript has been edited for style and clarity.
Kyle Long: John Terrell was born in Mississippi in 1946. His family later moved to Detroit, and in 1964 they settled in Indianapolis. After graduating from Crispus Attucks High School in 1965, John was drafted into the Army. He served in the Vietnam War, and after returning home, John turned his focus to music.
He founded Knaptown Records in 1970. The first single Knaptown released was from the Sentimentals, a vocal duo featuring Josephine Cheatham and Henry Hinch. At the time, Josephine was married to John Terrell. Josephine told me that it was Henry who first introduced her to John.
Josephine Cheatham: John, he loved music and he loved Henry and me. In fact, it was Henry who introduced me to John.
Henry Hinch: And when they got engaged, I was so sad.
Long: Why were you sad?
Hinch: I wanted her to myself. (laughs)
Long: Josephine told me that John co-wrote the Sentimentals’ signature song, “I Know You Too Well.” Like many Knaptown releases, “I Know You Too Well” was a local hit, but Josephine said the label lacked the financial capital to push the music to the top of the charts.
Cheatham: We didn’t have the funds to promote it enough. If we did, I think it would have been a very different story. You had payola. Everybody knows about payola, and if you didn’t have the money, then you just didn’t get your record played as much.
Long: In addition to her work with the Sentimentals, Josephine sang and co-wrote one of Knaptown’s most memorable singles, “Color Me” by People in the News. Issued in 1970, the song commented on the social unrest of the late 1960s.
Cheatham: So much was going on in our country, and the issue was your color. I guess I wanted people to hear in music what was really happening.
Long: Many prominent musicians recorded for Knaptown during their early careers, including Rodney Stepp, keyboardist for the Spinners. Stepp’s band, Jazzie Cazzie and the Eight Sounds, released a classic single for Knaptown.
Rodney Stepp: John made us a deal. “Hey, man, you guys need to be recording on our label.” We couldn’t record. We couldn’t afford to record. So we said, “Yeah, we should be.” I was still in high school, and to have a record out — oh man, we were big time. We’re going to school and people would say, “Heard your record on the radio.” Yeah, well, you know.
Long: Sadly, one of the biggest acts John signed to Knaptown never issued a record. In 1971, John began working with the Indy Five. The group featured a young Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. I spoke with Babyface in 2017, and he recalled his experience with the Indy Five.
Babyface: I was in it for a second, probably in seventh grade or so. But I do remember being a part of that band. It never quite came together.
Long: John Terrell died in Indianapolis on March 10, 2026. He was 79 years old, but the music he released through Knaptown lives on with soul music fans across generations and continents.
