Argo Records was started in December of 1955 to accommodate some of the rapidly growing recording activity at Chess Records. Originally the label was called Marterry, but bandleader Ralph Marterie objected, and within a couple of months the imprint was renamed Argo. Argo become well known for its jazz offerings and jazz performers affiliated with the label included Ahmad Jamal, James Moody, King Fleming, Sonny Stitt and the Ramsey Lewis Trio.