Fontana Records

Fontana Records
Parent company	Universal Music Group (1999–2012, 2019–present) Isolation Network (2012–2019)
Founded	1954; 70 years ago (1954)
Distributor(s)	Philips Records (1954–72) PolyGram Group Distribution (1972–99) Fontana Distribution (1999–2020) Virgin Music Group (2020–present)
Genre	Various
Country of origin	U.S.
Location	Los Angeles, California

Fontana Records is a record label that was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records.^[1] The independent label distributor Fontana Distribution takes its name from the label.

History

Fontana started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records; when Philips restructured its music operations, it dropped Fontana in favor of Vertigo Records.

Fontana's U.S. counterpart label was started in 1964 and distributed by Philips US subsidiary Mercury Records. The initial single release (F 1501) was a wild teen beat instrumental by famed British session drummer Bobby Graham, both sides featuring Jimmy Page on guitar. Among the hitmakers were Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders (then later on their own, simply as the Mindbenders), the Troggs, the New Vaudeville Band, Manfred Mann, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, and Steam.^[2]

In 2009 the label released Brooke Hogan's album.^[3]

US label variations

• 1964—Pink label
• 1965-1970—Light blue or slightly darker-toned blue label (some of these labels were stamped with an "S")
• 1980s—Black and silver label

See also

• Lists of record labels

References

1. Bell, Robin (13 February 2016). The History of British Rock and Roll: The Beat Boom 1963 – 1966. Lulu Press. pp. 226–. ISBN 978-91-981916-6-0.
2. Daniel E. Slotnik (29 June 2017). "Gary DeCarlo, Who Sang 'Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye,' Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
3. US Weekly review Brooke Hogan retrieved 22 December 2021

External links

• Fontana story from BSN Pubs
• A discography of American Fontana albums in the 1960s and early 1970s
• A discography of American Fontana singles in the 1960s and early 1970s
• A discography of UK Fontana singles from 1958 to 1974
• A discography of Australian Fontana singles