Bellmark Records is a small U.S.

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 independent record label

Independent record label

An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...

, based on the west coast

West Coast of the United States

West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...

 and is distributed by the independent DM Records Group. It was formed in the late 1980s by Al Bell

Al Bell

Al Bell is an American record producer, songwriter, and record executive. Bell is best known as one of the key figures behind and a co-owner of Memphis, Tennessee-based Stax Records during the latter half of the label's nineteen-year existence...

, who was one of the driving forces behind the legendary Stax Records

Stax Records

Stax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and...

.

The label is best known for releasing "Whoomp! There It Is" by Tag Team

Tag Team

Tag Team was a hip hop/pop rap duo from Atlanta, Georgia, United States active from 1993 up to 1995. The duo was made up of Cecil Glenn and Steve Gibson . They are best known for their #1 single, "Whoomp! ", which was released in 1993, but rereleased as a remix in 2000...

 and "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" by Prince

Prince (musician)

Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...

 on February 14, 1994.

Bellmark has distributed other labels, such as Avitone Records

Avitone Records

Avitone Recordings is an independent record label formed by singer/songwriter Jody Watley in 1995, established after Watley departed ways with MCA Records. The singer formed the label as a vehicle to support her own musical evolution outside of the major label system...

, Bellmark/Life Records, Black Forest Records, Black Orchid Records and Gotcha Bakk Records