| Concord Records | |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Concord Music Group |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Founder | Carl Jefferson |
| Distributor(s) | Universal Music Group |
| Genre | Jazz, pop, rock |
| Country of origin | US |
| Official Website | http://www.concordmusicgroup.com/ |
Concord Records is a U.S. record label now based in Beverly Hills, California. Originally known as Concord Jazz, it was established in 1972 as an off-shoot of the Concord Jazz Festival in Concord, California by festival founder Carl Jefferson, a local automobile dealer and jazz fan who sold his Lincoln Mercury dealership to found "the jazz label I can never find in record stores." Since then, the label has achieved international recognition, as well as 88 Grammy Award nominations and 14 Grammy Awards.
The label issues a large number of live recordings from festivals and other venues, including a series started in 1990 of piano recitals from Maybeck Recital Hall in Berkeley, California by many well known jazz pianists. The original Concord Jazz logo, a stylized eighth note incorporating the C and J of "Concord Jazz," was created by Bay Area graphic designer Dan Buck, who also worked on several album covers for the company.
Concord includes a family of specialized labels, including Concord Picante for Latin Jazz and Concord Concerto for Classical music.[1]
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In 1999, Concord Records was purchased by a consortium led by Hal Gaba and his longtime associate, television producer Norman Lear, and moved its offices in 2002 from Concord to Beverly Hills. Its catalog was greatly enhanced in 2004 with the purchase of Fantasy Records, bringing to Concord diverse music from Fantasy-owned labels such as Prestige, Stax and Specialty.[1] The company is now known as Concord Music Group.
Concord Records signed on Barry Manilow in 2000 with Norman Lear at the helm, which Barry to work on the long-anticipated concept album, "Here at the Mayflower" (designed by Los Angeles graphic designer Dennis Purcell of Clutch Design). The album was another eclectic mix of styles, almost entirely composed and produced by Manilow himself. While Manilow was at Concord Records, the Barry Manilow Scholarship was awarded for four consecutive years from 2002 to 2005 to the six highest-achieving students to reward excellence in the art and craft of lyric writing.
On December 19, 2005, it was announced that the group had purchased Telarc Records and its subsidiary Heads Up, in a deal whose terms have not been divulged.[1]
In 2007, Concord started the Hear Music label in association with Starbucks, signing such artists as Paul McCartney, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, John Mellencamp, Carly Simon and Elvis Costello. Although Starbucks ceased to be an active partner a year later,[2] Concord kept Hear as a going concern, even having a Top 5 album in 2010 with Carole King and James Taylor's Live at the Troubadour.
Kenny G signed to Concord in early 2008, Herb Alpert in early 2009. On June 5, 2009, Dave Koz signed to Concord.[3]
Concord purchased Rounder Records in 2010.[4]
In 2010, it has been reported that Paul McCartney's solo and Wings catalog will be globally distributed by Concord.
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