In 1946, Colin Pomroy and George Davies established the Tempo Record Society, importing jazz records from America.
In 1948, they began to record and issue their own material, using UK and visiting musicians.

Pomroy and Davies split in 1949, Davies continuing to use the Tempo name and continuing to record British trad musicians and to issue, under licence, American releases (including Good Time Jazz). However, the business declined and in 1953 the Tempo catalogue was acquired by the British Vogue label.