Del-Fi Records
Encyclopedia
Del-Fi Records was a record label
based in Hollywood, California and owned by Bob Keane
. The label's first single released was no 4101 "Caravan" by Henri Rose released in 1958
; however, the label was most famous for signing Ritchie Valens
. Valens' first single for the label was "Come On Let's Go" which was a hit. His next single, "Donna
"/"La Bamba
", was an even bigger big hit, and brought notability to label. The Del-Fi label closed its doors in 1974.
(previously on the Donna label), producing their biggest hit, "I Fought the Law" in 1965. Their fame continued into 1966 ran with assistance from Barry White
, however, Bobby's death later that year brought a halt to the label, and Mustang closed down in 1967.
, Bob Keane sold the Del-Fi and its subsidaries to the Warner Music Group
. Today, it is now running under Rhino Entertainment
and reissues some of its old material.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
based in Hollywood, California and owned by Bob Keane
Bob Keane
Bob Keane was an American musician, producer and owner of the record label Del-Fi Records. He was perhaps best known for being the producer and manager of Ritchie Valens.-Early years:...
. The label's first single released was no 4101 "Caravan" by Henri Rose released in 1958
1958 in music
-Events:*February - 45,000 peoplein one week watch performances of "rokabirī" music by Japanese singers at the first Nichigeki Western Carnival....
; however, the label was most famous for signing Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist....
. Valens' first single for the label was "Come On Let's Go" which was a hit. His next single, "Donna
Donna (song)
"Donna" is a song written and sung by Ritchie Valens featuring the 50s progression. The song was released in 1958 on Del-Fi Records. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the following year, becoming Valens' highest-charting single. The song was covered by another Del-Fi artist and western...
"/"La Bamba
La Bamba (song)
"La Bamba" is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz, best known from a 1958 adaptation by Ritchie Valens, a top 40 hit in the U.S. charts and one of early rock and roll's best-known songs...
", was an even bigger big hit, and brought notability to label. The Del-Fi label closed its doors in 1974.
Sister Labels
Stereo-Fi Records and Donna Records were soon started as sister labels by Keane. Donna records was started in 1959, named after Ritchie Valen's hit of the same name. In 1965, Bob Keane felt the Del-Fi and Donna labels were aging, so the Mustang Records and Bronco Records labels were started in their place, capitalizing on their new, exciting themes. The Mustang label achieved fame through the Bobby Fuller FourBobby Fuller
Robert Gaston "Bobby" Fuller was an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitar player best known for his singles "I Fought the Law" and "Love's Made a Fool of You," recorded with his mid-1960s group, the Bobby Fuller Four....
(previously on the Donna label), producing their biggest hit, "I Fought the Law" in 1965. Their fame continued into 1966 ran with assistance from Barry White
Barry White
Barry White, born Barry Eugene Carter , was an American composer and singer-songwriter.A five-time Grammy Award-winner known for his distinctive bass voice and romantic image, White's greatest success came in the 1970s as a solo singer and with the Love Unlimited Orchestra, crafting many enduring...
, however, Bobby's death later that year brought a halt to the label, and Mustang closed down in 1967.
Legacy
In 1995, Del-Fi was resurrected and released numerous CDs of its original material (some under the Donna label), and signed some new acts to the label as well. In September of 20032003 in music
-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
, Bob Keane sold the Del-Fi and its subsidaries to the Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
. Today, it is now running under Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
and reissues some of its old material.
Artists
- Addrisi BrothersAddrisi BrothersThe Addrisi Brothers were an American pop duo from Winthrop, Massachusetts. The brothers themselves were Donald Addrisi and Richard Addrisi, known as Dick ....
- eden ahbezEden Ahbezeden ahbez was an American songwriter and recording artist of the 1940s-1960s, whose lifestyle in California was influential on the hippie movement...
- Chan RomeroChan RomeroRobert Lee "Chan" Romero is an American rock and roll pioneer and contemporary of Ritchie Valens, best known for his seminal 1959 hit, Hippy Hippy Shake.-Life and career:...
- Ritchie ValensRitchie ValensRitchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist....
- Johnny CrawfordJohnny CrawfordJohn Ernest "Johnny" Crawford is a prolific American character actor, singer and musician. At 12, Crawford rose to fame for playing Mark McCain, the son of the Lucas McCain character , in the popular 1960s ABC western series, The Rifleman, which aired from 1958 to 1963...
- Bobby CurtolaBobby CurtolaRobert Allen "Bobby" Curtola, CM is an early Canadian rock and roll singer and teen idol.-History:Curtola had several songs on the Canadian music charts beginning with "Hand In Hand With You"...
- Bobby Fuller Four (Donna & Mustang)
- Brenda HollowayBrenda HollowayBrenda Holloway is an American singer and songwriter, a recording artist for the Motown label during the 1960s...
- Barry WhiteBarry WhiteBarry White, born Barry Eugene Carter , was an American composer and singer-songwriter.A five-time Grammy Award-winner known for his distinctive bass voice and romantic image, White's greatest success came in the 1970s as a solo singer and with the Love Unlimited Orchestra, crafting many enduring...
(Bronco) - Frank ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
- The SurfarisThe SurfarisThe Surfaris were an American surf rock band formed in Glendora, California in 1962. They are best known for two songs that hit the charts in the Los Angeles, California area, and nationally by May 1963: "Surfer Joe" on the A-side and "Wipe Out" on the B-side of a 45 RPM single.-Career:The original...
- The Lively OnesThe Lively OnesThe Lively Ones were an American instrumental surf rock band active in Southern California in the 1960s. They played live mostly in California and Arizona. They recorded for Del-Fi records with production from Bob Keane...
- The CenturionsThe CenturionsThe Centurions were an American surf rock band from Newport Beach, California, active in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In recent times, they are best known for their recording "Bullwinkle Part II", a dark and saxy surf tune from their eponymous album. This tune was featured in Quentin...
- Spider Webb and the InsectsTom FogertyThomas Richard "Tom" Fogerty was an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist in Creedence Clearwater Revival and the elder brother of John Fogerty, lead singer and lead guitarist in that band....
- Little Caesar & the RomansLittle Caesar & the RomansLittle Caesar & the Romans were an American musical group from Los Angeles active briefly in the 1960s.The group began recording in 1959 as The Cubans, but changed their name to The Upfronts after the political crisis in Cuba. They had three hits: the first and biggest was the nostalgic tune "Those...
- Ron HoldenRon HoldenRon Holden was an American pop singer. He was born in Seattle, Washington.Holden was discovered by Larry Nelson, who had just left work as a police officer to start his own record label...
(Donna) - The Carlos Brothers
- Outrageous CherryOutrageous Cherry-History:Outrageous Cherry formed in 1992 as a solo project for Matthew Smith, but soon expanded to a four-piece after he began performing live in 1993...
See also
- Bob KeaneBob KeaneBob Keane was an American musician, producer and owner of the record label Del-Fi Records. He was perhaps best known for being the producer and manager of Ritchie Valens.-Early years:...
- Ritchie ValensRitchie ValensRitchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist....
- List of record labels
- singles discography
- albums discography