Era Records was an independent American record label located in Hollywood, California. It was founded by Herb Newman and Lou Bedell in 1955 as a pop, country and western and jazz label. Era had a #1 hit in 1956 with Gogi Grant's "The Wayward Wind", written by Newman. In 1959 Bedell sold his interest in the label to Newman. Artists who experienced hits on Era include Ketty Lester ("Love Letters"), Larry Verne ("Mr.