De-Lite Records

Last updated
De-Lite Records
De-Lite Records.jpg
Parent company Universal Music Group
Founded1967;55 years ago (1967) (as De-Lite Recorded Sound Corporation)
FounderFred Vigorito, Fred Fioto, Ted Simonetti
Defunct1985 (1985)
StatusInactive
Distributor(s) Island Records (United States)
Universal Music Distribution (International)
Genre R&B
Country of originUnited States

De-Lite Records, whose formal name was De-Lite Recorded Sound Corporation, was a record label specializing in R&B music from 1969 to 1985; Island Records now manages the De-Lite catalog.

Contents

History

De-Lite Records was founded in 1967 by Fred Vigorito ( Frederick Gabriel Vigorito; 1922–2008), Fred Fioto ( Frederick Alfred Fioto; 1920–1999), [lower-alpha 1] and Ted Simonetti ( Ted Eddy Simonetti; 1902–1985). [1] [2] Prominent on their staff was veteran music producer Gene Redd ( Clarence Eugene Redd, Jr.; 1916–1983), [3] father of the late singer Sharon Redd and singer Penny Ford. The very first album released on De-Lite was in 1968: catalog number DE-2001, The New Sounds of the Louis Prima Show, featuring Louis Prima, Sam Butera and the Witnesses, Gia Maione, and Little Richie Varola ( Richard Varhola; 1943–1974). [4]

De-Lite's first single was by an unknown singer named "Mr. Ginger Ale" in 1968, "That Old Feeling"/"Love Walked In", catalog number 509. [5]

One of the label's first signings for popular music was Kool and the Gang, who originally appeared on a precursor label, Red Coach. Their eponymous instrumental single was their first big R&B hit, in the year 1969 ("Kool & The Gang"/"Raw Hamburger", Red Coach R 601; later released as De-Lite 519-0). [6] Kool and the Gang was the most successful act for De-Lite, scoring many hits on the R&B and pop charts.

In the 1970s, Pickwick International took over distribution of the label, and Kool and The Gang's pop success began in 1973 with their first Top 40 crossover hit, "Funky Stuff."

Disco pioneers Crown Heights Affair were signed to the label in 1975, and promptly released "Dreaming a Dream", which reached #5 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart. They followed with the Top 20 hits, "Every Beat of My Heart," "Foxy Lady", and "Dancin'." The album "Dreaming a Dream" was followed by "Do It Your Way" (1976), "Dream World" (1978), "Dance Lady Dance" (1979), and "Sure Shot" (1980).

After PolyGram purchased Pickwick in 1977 it took over distribution of the De-Lite label, which maintained the imprint for Kool And The Gang's releases. In 1985, De-Lite was absorbed into PolyGram sublabel Mercury Records, and Kool and the Gang were transferred there as well. In 1998, Polygram merged with Universal Music Group; their subsidiary Island Records now manages the De-Lite catalog.

Other De-Lite imprints

De-Lite had other imprints as well:

Bibliography

Annotations

  1. Fred Vigorito and Fred Fioto were 1st cousins by way of grandparents, Antonio Fioto (1851–1936) and Carmela M. Cacace (maiden; 1864–1931).

Related Research Articles

Kool & the Gang American R&B, soul and funk band

Kool & the Gang is an American R&B/funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis "Dee Tee" Thomas, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Charles Smith, George Brown, and Ricky West. They have undergone numerous changes in personnel and have explored many musical styles throughout their history, including jazz, soul, funk, rock, and pop music. After settling on their name following several changes, the group signed to De-Lite Records and released their debut album, Kool and the Gang (1969).

Bonzai Records

Bonzai Records, also known as Bonzai Music or Bonzai Progressive, is a Belgium-based record label specializing in techno, trance, hard trance, Goa trance, rave music and hardcore music.

Eumir Deodato Brazilian musician

Eumir Deodato de Almeida is a Brazilian pianist, composer, arranger, and record producer, primarily in jazz but who has been known for his eclectic melding of genres, such as pop, rock, disco, rhythm and blues, classical, Latin and bossa nova.

Platipus Records was a British trance music record label that was based in London, England. It was founded in 1993 by Simon Berry, and early releases included Union Jack and Art of Trance. Later, the label included artists like Dawnseekers and Quietman. Sublabels included Gekko and Platipus Euro. Platipus Records Ltd ceased trading in 2010. Berry and the label's artists relaunched under the Porcupine Records label, but this was superseded by the founding of Platipus Music at the end of 2011.

Unidisc Music is a Canadian independent record label. The label is known for releasing rare music, that was made between the mid-1960s and late 1980s. Genres include rock, electronic, funk, soul, hip hop, jazz, reggae, Latin, disco and a cappella. Unidisc owns the 1982–1993 Sutra Records catalog, and the catalogs of other independent New York labels that the latter distributed.

Sharon Redd American singer (1945–1992)

Sharon Redd was an American singer from New York City. She was the half sister of Snap! singer Penny Ford.

Pickwick Records was an American record label and British record distributor known for its budget album releases of sound-alike recordings, bargain bin reissues and repackagings under the brands Design, Bravo, Hurrah, Grand Prix, and children's records on the Cricket and Happy Time labels.

<i>Celebrate!</i> 1980 studio album by Kool & the Gang

Celebrate! is the twelfth studio album by American band Kool & the Gang. Released on September 29, 1980, the album reached No. 1 on the US R&B chart and #10 on the Billboard 200. The album produced perhaps Kool & the Gang's most recognizable hit song, the #1 chart-topper, "Celebration", which still receives heavy play today over four decades later.

Get Down on It 1981 single by Kool & the Gang

"Get Down on It" is a 1981 song by American band Kool & the Gang. It was originally released on their Something Special album in 1981. The single was certified Gold by the RIAA.

<i>Something Special</i> (Kool & the Gang album) 1981 studio album by Kool & the Gang

Something Special is the thirteenth studio album by American band Kool & the Gang, released in 1981. It was the group's third consecutive Platinum-certified album.

<i>As One</i> (Kool & the Gang album) 1982 studio album by Kool & the Gang

As One is the fourteenth studio album by the funk band Kool & the Gang, released in 1982. The album did not yield any #1 singles, but the song "Let's Go Dancin'" did make the top ten, peaking at #7 on the U.S. R&B chart and #6 on the UK Singles Chart. "Big Fun" also became an international hit.

<i>In the Heart</i> 1983 studio album by Kool & the Gang

In the Heart is the fifteenth studio album by the funk/R&B band Kool & the Gang, released on November 21, 1983. The album became a hit and brought a return to the Billboard charts for the band. The hit love song, "Joanna", soared to number two on the charts in the U.S. and UK, and hit number one on the U.S. R&B chart. "Straight Ahead" was only #103 in the U.S. but a top twenty hit in the UK, while "Tonight" was a top twenty in the U.S.

<i>Emergency</i> (Kool & the Gang album) Album by Kool & the Gang

Emergency is the sixteenth studio album by the American band Kool & the Gang, released in 1984. It ultimately became the group's biggest selling career album, earning Double Platinum status in America, Platinum in Canada, and Silver in the UK.

<i>Back in Your Arms</i> 1998 studio album by Amanda Lear

Back in Your Arms is an album by French singer Amanda Lear, released in 1998 by Dig It Int'l, consisting mostly of re-recordings of her greatest hits from the 1970s. Originally released on the Italian market, the album was subsequently re-launched in Germany by BMG-Ariola as Amanda '98 – Follow Me Back in My Arms with a revised track listing.

Hollywood Swinging 1974 funk song by Kool & The Gang

"Hollywood Swinging" is a 1974 song by R&B/funk band Kool & the Gang from their album Wild and Peaceful. It was written by Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, George M. Brown, Robert "Spike" Mickens, Claydes Charles Smith, Dennis R. Thomas and Rick A. Westfield.

"Higher Plane" is the name of a hit song by R&B/funk band Kool & the Gang and written by Robert Earl Bell, Ronald Nathan Bell, George Melvin Brown, Robert Spike Mickens, Claydes Charles Smith, Dennis Thomas and Rick Westfield. From the album Light of Worlds, the single spent one week at number one on the R&B singles chart in October, 1974. It also peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The song was included on the 1975 Kool & the Gang Greatest Hits! record.

"Misled" is a 1984 song by American R&B group Kool & the Gang taken from their album, Emergency. The song takes influence from rock and pop music. It reached number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The writing is credited to James Taylor, Ronald Bell, and Kool & the Gang.

Fresh (Kool & the Gang song)

"Fresh" is a song by the American group Kool & the Gang. Released as a single in 1984 from the album Emergency, the song peaked at #9 on the U.S. Hot 100 chart, and #11 on the UK chart. It also reached number one on both the U.S. R&B chart and U.S. Dance chart.

Too Hot (Kool & the Gang song) 1980 single by Kool & the Gang

"Too Hot" is a song recorded by the American band Kool & the Gang for their 1979 album Ladies' Night. It was written by George Brown and Kool & the Gang, and produced by Eumir Deodato and Kool & the Gang. The song reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100.

"Steppin' Out" is a hit song for Kool & the Gang. It reached #89 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #12 on the R&B chart. The song was re-released in 2004, featuring Beverley Knight, for the remix album The Hits: Reloaded.

References

  1. Billboard (October 9, 1982). "De-Lite Records" – "At the Birth of De-Lite in 1967: Founding Fathers Vow to Give Consumers Quality Music" (advertising supplement → "15th Anniversary"). Lock-green.svg . 94 (40): D3–D4. Retrieved November 20, 2017 via Google Books.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Billboard (October 9, 1982). "Hallmark Ties With De-Lite". Lock-green.svg . 81 (15): 10. Retrieved May 24, 2022 via Google Books.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. Mix; Jackson, Blair (January 1, 2001). "Classic Tracks: Kool & the Gang's 'Celebration'". 25 (1).{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) – via www.mixonline.com .
    Re: 1980 song, "Celebration"
  4. Prima, Louis. "The New Sounds Of The Louis Prima Show". discogs.com. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  5. Ale, Ginger. "Mr". discogs.com. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  6. Kool & The Gang. ""Kool & The Gang"/Raw Hamburger"". discogs.com. Retrieved November 20, 2017.