HighTone Records was an American independent record label based in Oakland, California, United States. Hightone specialized in American roots music including, country, rockabilly, western swing, blues and gospel. The label was created by Larry Sloven and Bruce Bromberg in 1983. The label's first release that year was Bad Influence by bluesman Robert Cray. In 1984, the label released Frankie Lee's debut album, The Ladies and the Babies. Some of the label's best releases in the late 1980s featured the great living blues legend Joe Louis Walker including "Cold is the Night" and "The Gift."