Kapp Records

Kapp Records
Kapp logo
Parent companyMCA Inc. (original), Universal Music Group (current)
Founded1954 (1954)
FounderDavid Kapp
Defunct1973 (1973)
StatusInactive
Distributor(s)MCA Records
Universal Music Group
GenreVarious
Country of originU.S.
David Kapp
David Kapp and Danny Kaye, 1946
David Kapp and Danny Kaye, 1946
Background information
Birth nameDavid Kapp
BornAugust 7, 1904[1]
Chicago, Illinois
DiedMarch 1, 1976[1]
New York City[1]
GenresCountry, pop, rock, R&B, jazz, musical theatre
OccupationRecord producer
Years active1930s–1960s
LabelsDecca, RCA Victor, Kapp

Kapp Records was an independent record label started in 1954 by David Kapp, brother of Jack Kapp (who set up American Decca Records in 1934). David Kapp founded his own label after stints with Decca and RCA Victor.[2][3] Kapp licensed its records to London Records for release in the UK.

In 1967, David Kapp sold his label to MCA Inc. and the label was placed under Uni Records management;[4] Kapp was consolidated with MCA's other record labels in 1971 and, in 1973, MCA Records released the last Kapp record. Catalogue albums that continued to sell were renumbered and reissued on the MCA label.[5]

Kapp's subsidiaries included Medallion Records (an audiophile label),[6] Congress Records, Leader Records, and Four Corners Records with its "4 Corners of the World" logo. Four Corners was formed to promote European artists, such as Françoise Hardy, Raymond Lefèvre, and the Barclay Singers.

Today, the Kapp Records catalog is owned by MCA's successor-in-interest Universal Music Group through its Geffen Records subsidiary.

  1. ^ a b c Hoffmann, Frank (2004). Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound (2nd ed.). Routledge. p. 1119. ISBN 978-0415938358.
  2. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 1967-12-09. p. 7. Retrieved 2013-02-28 – via Internet Archive. kapp records + mca.
  3. ^ "Kapp Records - CDs and Vinyl at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2013-02-14. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  4. ^ "MCA Buys Kapp in New Surge to be a Major Record Complex". Billboard. 1967-12-09. p. 7. Retrieved 2013-02-28 – via Internet Archive. uni + decca + kapp.
  5. ^ "Kapp Album Discography, Part 7". Bsnpubs.com. 2013-03-15. Retrieved 2014-08-03.
  6. ^ Billboard. 1960-05-09. p. 43. Retrieved 2013-02-28 – via Internet Archive. kapp + medallion records.