TK Records
Encyclopedia
TK Records was an American record label
started by record distributor, Henry Stone
in Miami, Florida, one of several labels that he founded in the 1960s and 1970s. It distributed disco stars, KC and the Sunshine Band
until 1981.
TK Records is closely associated with soul/R&B and the early rise of disco
music, being the label on which the second bona fide disco song (after The Hues Corporation's "Rock The Boat
") to reach #1 on the pop music
charts was released, "Rock Your Baby" by George McCrae
in 1974. A little more than a year after McCrae's hit, the record label struck gold with KC & The Sunshine Band with five #1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Get Down Tonight", "That's the Way I Like It", "Shake Your Booty", "I'm Your Boogie Man" and "Please Don't Go", while "Keep It Coming Love" topped the R&B chart as well.
Other artists who had an impact on the label, or on one of its many subsidiary labels, include Betty Wright (on Alston), Benny Latimore (Glades), Peter Brown
(Drive), Foxy
, Kracker
(Dash), Jimmy"Bo" Horne (Sunshine Sound), Timmy Thomas
(Glades), Gwen McCrae
(Cat), T-Connection
(Dash), Bobby Caldwell
(Clouds), and Anita Ward
(Juana). Within a couple of years, TK's notability in disco music would be surpassed by other labels such as Casablanca Records
and RSO Records
, but, in the early years, TK was undoubtedly in the top tier of the disco genre.
In 1980
, TK Records encountered financial problems and the label was acquired by Morris Levy
's Roulette Records
, and the unification of the labels formed Sunnyview Records. The last single to be released on the TK label was "Weird Al" Yankovic
's "Another One Rides the Bus
". When Morris Levy
was forced to leave the country in 1986, Henry Stone
formed Hot Productions with Paul Klein and continued to re-release the TK catalog on CD until its acquisition by Rhino Records.
:
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,...
started by record distributor, Henry Stone
Henry Stone
Henry Stone is an American record company executive and producer whose career spans the era from R&B in the early 1950s through the disco boom of the 1970s to the present day. He is best known as co-owner and president of TK Records....
in Miami, Florida, one of several labels that he founded in the 1960s and 1970s. It distributed disco stars, KC and the Sunshine Band
KC and the Sunshine Band
KC and the Sunshine Band is an American musical group. Founded in 1973 in Miami, Florida, their style has included funk, R&B, and disco. Their most well known songs include the disco hits "That's the Way ", " Shake Your Booty", "I'm Your Boogie Man", "Keep It Comin' Love", "Get Down Tonight", "Give...
until 1981.
TK Records is closely associated with soul/R&B and the early rise of disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
music, being the label on which the second bona fide disco song (after The Hues Corporation's "Rock The Boat
Rock the Boat (Hues Corporation song)
"Rock the Boat" is a disco song by the group Hues Corporation in 1974. "Rock the Boat" was written by Waldo Holmes, who also wrote the Blacula songs....
") to reach #1 on the pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
charts was released, "Rock Your Baby" by George McCrae
George McCrae
George McCrae is an American soul and disco singer, most famous for his 1974 hit "Rock Your Baby".-Early life and career:...
in 1974. A little more than a year after McCrae's hit, the record label struck gold with KC & The Sunshine Band with five #1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Get Down Tonight", "That's the Way I Like It", "Shake Your Booty", "I'm Your Boogie Man" and "Please Don't Go", while "Keep It Coming Love" topped the R&B chart as well.
Other artists who had an impact on the label, or on one of its many subsidiary labels, include Betty Wright (on Alston), Benny Latimore (Glades), Peter Brown
Peter Brown (singer)
Peter Brown is an artist, songwriter and record producer. He grew up in Palos Heights, another Chicago suburb. His mother, Virginia, was artistic and musically talented and gave Peter music lessons at a very young age. Peter’s father, Maurice, was an electronic engineer and unwittingly helped him...
(Drive), Foxy
Foxy (band)
Foxy is a Latin Dance/disco group formed in 1976 in Miami, Florida.The group consisted of vocalist-guitarist Ish "Angel" Ledesma , percussionist Richard "Richie" Puente, keyboardist Charlie Murciano, bass guitarist Arnold Paseiro and drummer Joe Galdo...
, Kracker
Kracker
Kracker were an American rock band active in the 1970s.-Biography:The band was originally formed in South Florida in 1970, but moved to Chicago in April 1971, where they were introduced to producer Jimmy Miller. With Miller, they recorded their first album, La Familia, which was released on ABC...
(Dash), Jimmy"Bo" Horne (Sunshine Sound), Timmy Thomas
Timmy Thomas
Timmy Thomas is an American R&B singer, keyboardist, songwriter and record producer, best known for the hit song, "Why Can't We Live Together".-Career:...
(Glades), Gwen McCrae
Gwen McCrae
Gwen McCrae is an American R&B singer, best known for her March, 1975 hit "Rockin' Chair".-Career:...
(Cat), T-Connection
T-Connection
T-Connection was a funk and disco group from Nassau, the Bahamas, who scored two hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1977 and 1979. They did better on the US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, where they had five Top 10 hits, including "Do What You Wanna Do", which reached #1, and "Everything Is...
(Dash), Bobby Caldwell
Bobby Caldwell
Bobby Caldwell is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who, despite a prolific musical output over his 30-year career, is still best known for his 1978 hit single "What You Won't Do for Love". While he has always maintained a devoted fan base in the United States, a legendary...
(Clouds), and Anita Ward
Anita Ward
Anita Ward is an American singer and musician. She is best known for her 1979 million selling chart-topper, "Ring My Bell".-Career:Before signing a recording contract, Ward obtained a degree in psychology from Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, and had become a schoolteacher...
(Juana). Within a couple of years, TK's notability in disco music would be surpassed by other labels such as Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records was an American record label started by Neil Bogart, who partnered with Cecil Holmes, Larry Harris, and Buck Reingold in 1973, and based in Los Angeles. The label was formed after all of them had left Buddah Records and secured financing by Warner Bros. Records to start the venture...
and RSO Records
RSO Records
RSO Records was a record label, formed by rock and roll and musical theatre impresario Robert Stigwood in 1973. The "RSO" stands for the Robert Stigwood Organisation. The company's main headquarters were at 67 Brook Street, in London's Mayfair...
, but, in the early years, TK was undoubtedly in the top tier of the disco genre.
In 1980
1980 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1980.-January–March:*January 1**Cliff Richard is appointed an MBE by Elizabeth II.**The Zorros audition drummer Greg Pedley....
, TK Records encountered financial problems and the label was acquired by Morris Levy
Morris Levy
Morris Levy was an American music industry executive, best known as the founder and owner of Roulette Records...
's Roulette Records
Roulette Records
Roulette Records is an American record label, which was founded in late 1956, by George Goldner, Joe Kolsky, Morris Levy and Phil Khals, with creative control given to producers and songwriters Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. Levy was appointed as director...
, and the unification of the labels formed Sunnyview Records. The last single to be released on the TK label was "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
's "Another One Rides the Bus
Another One Rides the Bus
"Another One Rides the Bus" is a parody of Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It originally was released on Yankovic's first EP and was later re-released on Yankovic' debut album.-Track listing:...
". When Morris Levy
Morris Levy
Morris Levy was an American music industry executive, best known as the founder and owner of Roulette Records...
was forced to leave the country in 1986, Henry Stone
Henry Stone
Henry Stone is an American record company executive and producer whose career spans the era from R&B in the early 1950s through the disco boom of the 1970s to the present day. He is best known as co-owner and president of TK Records....
formed Hot Productions with Paul Klein and continued to re-release the TK catalog on CD until its acquisition by Rhino Records.
Wolf Records
Wolf Records was a jazz subsidiary that released only three albums, each produced by Joel DornJoel Dorn
Joel Dorn was an American jazz and R&B music producer and record label entrepreneur. He worked at Atlantic Records, and later founded the 32 Jazz, Label M, and Hyena Records labels...
:
- 1976: Encourage the People - Robin KenyattaRobin KenyattaRobin Kenyatta was an American jazz alto saxophonist.-Career:Born Robert Prince Haynes in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, United States, Kenyatta grew up in New York. He played with Bill Dixon there in the 1960s, playing with his project "The October Revolution in Jazz"...
- 1977: After the Dance - Harold VickHarold VickHarold Vick was an American hard bop and soul jazz saxophonist and flautist born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina....
- 1978: Innocnence - Kenny BarronKenny BarronKenny Barron , is an American jazz pianist. He is the younger brother of tenor saxophonist Bill Barron, and known for his lyrical, adaptive style.-Biography:...