Discos Fuentes

Discos Fuentes
Founded 1934
Founder Antonio Fuentes Estrada
Genre Latin, cumbia, salsa
Country of origin Colombia, South America
Location Medellín, Colombia
Official website Official website

Discos Fuentes is a record label based in Medellín, Colombia, South America. Founded in 1934 in Cartagena, Colombia, by Antonio Fuentes Estrada, Discos Fuentes was the country's first notable record label.[1][2] The label was instrumental in introducing Colombia to such Afro-rhythm genres as cumbia, fandango, merengue, porro, and salsa.[3] The label also helped forge the early careers for such musicians and composers as Guillermo Buitrago, Rafael Escalona, and Julio César Bovea.

Discos Fuentes has often been described as Colombia's version of "Motown", peaking in the 1960s and early 1970s.[1] The label achieved a series of firsts for Colombia: the first compilation album (1960) and the first compact disc release (1987).[2]

After the death of the label's founder, Antonio Fuentes Estrada, in 1985, the company expanded into video production and purchased several other music labels including Discos Tropical and Curro.[2]

US distribution

In the United States, the manufacture and/or distribution of Discos Fuentes releases was eventually handled by Miami Records, a Miami, Florida-based label specializing in Latin American music.[4] Formed in 1950 by Colombian immigrant, Carlos Diaz-Granados, Sr., Miami Records also managed the manufacture and/or distribution of Latin music for other South American labels as well as for such American labels as Columbia Records.[4]

Select artists

Discos Fuentes LP record
  • Afrosound/The Afrosound
  • Alfredo Gutierrez
  • Andres Landero
  • Anibal Velasquez
  • Ariza Y Su Combo
  • Calixto Ochoa
  • Catalino Tejedor
  • Climaco Sarmiento
  • Combo Los Galleros
  • El Combo Loco
  • Eliseo Herrera
  • Fela Kuti
  • Fruko Y Sus Tesos/Fruko El Bueno
  • Guillermo Buitrago
  • Julio César Bovea
  • Lito Barrientos
  • Los Bestiales
  • Los Corraleros
  • Los Lideres
  • Los Teen Agers
  • Pedro Laza
  • Puerto Rican Power
  • Rafael Escalona
  • Rufo Garrido
  • Sonora Cordobesa
  • Tata Guines
  • The Latin Brothers
  • Wganda Kenya

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Global hit: The Golden Age of Discos Fuentes, 1960–76". The World. June 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Discos Fuentes Record Label". SalsaArtists.com. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  3. ↑ K. Leander Williams (March 2007). "Album review: Colombia! The Golden Age of Discos Fuentes, 1960–76". Time Out New York. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 A brief history of Miami Records. books.google.com. Retrieved January 23, 2013.

External links