In 1920 Ferdinand Ingold, a poor but visionary Swiss settler in the small Wisconsin town of Monroe, Wisconsin, audaciously launched a record label, Helvetia--invoking his homeland's ancient name and celebrating its musical heritage.
Praised in the immigrant press yet beset by fiscal challenges, Helvetia issued a scant 36 sides. Rollicking and somber, sentimental and lusty, these Swiss, German, and Tyrolean tunes and songs feature virtuoso instrumental combos, vocal quartets, and especially yodelers from Swiss communities in New Jersey, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The label defunct in 1924.
