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SOLAR Records

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SOLAR Records
Founded1978
FounderDick Griffey
StatusActive
Distributor(s)RCA Records (1977-1981)
Elektra Records (1981-1986)
Capitol Records (1986-1989)
Epic Records (1989-1992)
Genre
Country of originUnited States
LocationLos Angeles, California

SOLAR (acronym for Sound of Los Angeles Records) [1][2][3] was an American record label founded in 1978 by Dick Griffey, reconstituted out of Soul Train Records only three years after it was founded with Soul Train television show host and creator Don Cornelius.[2]

History

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SOLAR began in 1975 as Soul Train Records, founded by Dick Griffey and Soul Train creator Don Cornelius.[2] The first act they signed was an R&B vocal quartet they named The Soul Train Gang (Gerald Brown, Terry Brown, Judy Jones, Patricia Williamson, and later Denise Smith), who performed one of Soul Train's many themes, "Soul Train '75". Their first album was entitled Don Cornelius Presents The Soul Train Gang. In 1976, their second album, The Soul Train Gang, produced by Philly's Norman Harris, was released. The Gang broke up in 1977.

That same year, Singer/drummer Arnie Oliver, aka Ahaguna G. Sun, and singer/guitarist Werner "Bear" Schuchner comprised Sunbear, a little-known soul/funk vocal duo that recorded in Los Angeles in 1977. Earth, Wind & Fire was a heavy influence on Sunbear, and there were also hints of Tower of Power and El Chicano in their sound. In 1977, Sunbear recorded its self-titled debut album for Don Cornelius and Dick Griffey's Soul Train Records, which evolved into Solar Records after Cornelius' departure in 1978. Sunbear broke up without ever recording a second album, and Oliver and Schuchner both went on to pursue other activities in the R&B world. Oliver became a member of Frankie Beverly's Maze, while Schuchner played guitar on albums by the Whispers, the Soul Train Gang, High Inergy, and others. In 1980, the Whispers recorded Sunbear's ballad "Fantasy" for their hit album Imagination.

Griffey formed a collective called Shalamar, using a host of session singers to record "Uptown Festival," a disco-length medley of early Motown hits.[4] After scoring a hit with the recording, he looked to Cornelius to help him put together an actual group to maintain the impact. In 1977, Soul Train dancers Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniels and former Soul Train Gang member Gerald Brown (who was eventually replaced by Howard Hewett) were recruited to form the new Shalamar, which would become the fledgling label's centerpiece. Cornelius wanted to shut down the label and Griffey paid him $300,000 for his interests in the label. Cornelius wanted to focus his energies on the TV show — which was a monster hit and required his full attention to keep it so.[4] With legalities now taken care of, Griffey reorganized Soul Train Records into the newly founded SOLAR label in late 1977.[4] Griffey and Cornelius remained good friends, and as a result SOLAR maintained close ties to the Soul Train show.

Success

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SOLAR was known for several others who enjoyed success, including: The Whispers, Dynasty, Lakeside, Midnight Star, Klymaxx, Calloway, Carrie Lucas, Collage and The Deele — which introduced singer/songwriter/producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds[1][2] and future music executive Antonio "L.A." Reid.[3] Griffey had always believed in giving new talents the opportunity to create and develop their craft, and he was introduced to songwriters/producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis by his A & R rep Dina R. Andrews (Dina Andrews Management Inc) who was the team's first manager, Reggie and Vincent Calloway, and Leon F. Sylvers III. The "SOLAR sound" was a collective effort, with artists working on each other's sessions and artists encouraged to be creative. Sylvers became SOLAR's house producer in 1978 and his signature basslines and productions helped mould the hit sound of SOLAR, which is funky, progressive dance music infused with soul and disco.

Decline

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By 1987, the label began to see its commercial fortunes decline. Contributing to the decline were A&R problems with Shalamar, primarily, maintaining the group's identity and momentum as former members Hewett and Watley had departed and were having successful solo careers on other labels. The shifting musical directions of R&B, dance and popular music in general in the late 1980s and early 1990s also contributed to their decline.

Distribution

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From 1977 to 1981, SOLAR was distributed by RCA Records, which had also distributed the Soul Train Records label during its two-year run. Griffey formed a second label, Constellation Records (no relation to the Chicago-based indie label founded by Ewart Abner) in 1981, which focused on more contemporary and top forty-geared acts to Griffey's more traditionally "urban" establishment (including Jon Gibson and Klymaxx). Upon its formation, Constellation was distributed through Elektra/Asylum Records, making it only natural for the main SOLAR label to jump ship to Elektra for distribution when it left RCA.

In the meantime, the Constellation label moved to MCA Records for distribution in 1984. Shortly thereafter, Griffey decided to abandon contemporary music to focus all of his attention on running SOLAR, and retaining its sonic theme. Subsequently, MCA bought the Constellation imprint and absorbed its artists, including Klymaxx, which had been its biggest act.

SOLAR's relationship with Elektra lasted until 1986.[5] After the Elektra distribution deal expired, SOLAR briefly took up distribution with Capitol Records until 1989, at which time it signed a new distribution deal with Epic Records, which oversaw what would ultimately become its twilight years.[5] In the early 1990s, the label released its last recordings- 1991's Now by Richie Havens and Times 3's eponymous debut album, the soundtrack to the 1992 film Deep Cover, 3rd Avenue's 1992 debut album Let's Talk About Love, and 1993 The Deele album An Invitation To Love.

Part of the label's back catalog, which includes the pre-1984 Constellation back catalog, were licensed by EMI in 1996, with many of its releases and compilations being re-issued through The Right Stuff Records.[6] In 2009, Unidisc Music purchased part of SOLAR's back catalog for Canada, US and South African territories. BMG owns the rights to part of the SOLAR catalog in the UK and Europe although the rights to SOLAR RECORDS as a trade mark and brand belong to the family of the late Dick Griffey according to the Intellectual Property Office.

UK relaunch

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In 2018, 40 years after the founding of SOLAR Records, the label was relaunched in the UK by the family of the late Dick Griffey, according to issue 77 of UK Publication 'Soul Survivors Magazine' which featured an interview with both Carrie Lucas and new CEO Jessie Tsang.[7] At the helm of the relaunched label is Griffey's widow Carrie Lucas, his daughter Carolyn Griffey and British Chinese music promoter and IP paralegal consultant Jessie Tsang. Solar Records incorporates the Soul Train Records and Soul Train Club brands. Jessie Tsang serves as CEO with Sonia Damney as Vice President. In 2022 Carrie Lucas, Carolyn Griffey, Dina Andrews, Virgil Roberts participated with US Cable channel TV One for a special episode of the UNSUNG TV series on Dick Griffey and Solar Records. The episode premiered on November 6, 2022.

Solar and Soul Train Records Legacy Today

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The Solar Records legacy continues today with the Solar Records and Soul Train Records brands licensed to Solar Legacy Entertainment Ltd and Galaxy of Stars Ltd. The Solar Legacy Entertainment Ltd company includes attorney at law Virgil Roberts [8] who previously served as president and legal counsel for Solar Records and Dick Griffey. Solar Legacy Entertainment also acquired music catalog rights to historic master recordings and also new music catalogs. Other ventures include the continuation of the 'Soul Train Club' [9] radio show which has been broadcasting on Solar Radio since 2017.

As of 2023 Galaxy of Stars Ltd oversees the live entertainment and music interests of the brands which includes the Soul Train Club and Solar Records. In December 2023 Solar entered into a TV and Film publishing deal due to be announced in 2024. Earmarked for release in 2024 is a new single by Kimberly Brown of Sounds of Blackness.

As of 2024 Virgil Roberts and Jessie Tsang on behalf of Solar Legacy Entertainment Ltd, entered into a deal with the famed Hollywood author, TV and film producer Tina Andrews for a Dick Griffey and Solar Records motion picture deal. Solar Legacy Entertainment Ltd also own a number of master recording rights to recordings by Soul Train Gang, Carrie Lucas, Klymaxx, Sunbear, Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre and the sound track to the film Deep Cover. Part of Solar's new catalog includes new music by Leon Sylvers III, Dana Meyers, Freddie Lee Peterkin, Brian K Morgan and Katie Goulet and Dick Griffey's grandson Kid3rd.

Artists

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In-house producers

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In-house writers

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Tania Carmenatti, Dana Meyers, Dennis "Den Den" Nelson, Dynasty members Nidra Beard & William Shelby, The Time member Ricky Darnell "Freeze" Smith, The Sylvers member Charmaine Sylvers, and Johnny Thomas Jr. were frequent writing collaborators on various SOLAR albums and/or for various SOLAR acts. Credits are courtesy of Tidal and Spotify. (A majority of Beard and Shelby's written contributions to their own group are omitted)

Title Year Artist Album Label
"The Second Time Around" (Shelby) 1979 Shalamar Big Fun SOLAR
"Are You Dancing" (Shelby) Carrie Lucas Carrie Lucas in Danceland SOLAR
"I'm Gonna Make You Happy" (Shelby)
"And the Beat Goes On" (Shelby) The Whispers The Whispers SOLAR
"Out the Box" (Shelby)
"I've Just Begun to Love You" (Shelby, Smith) 1980 Dynasty Adventures in the Land of Music SOLAR
"Adventures in the Land of Music" (Smith)
"It's a Love Thing" (Meyers, Shelby) The Whispers Imagination SOLAR
"I Can Make It Better" (Meyers, Shelby)
"Attention to My Baby" (Shelby) Shalamar Three for Love SOLAR
"Somewhere There's a Love" (Shelby)
"Some Things Never Change" (Meyers, Shelby)
"Make That Move" (Shelby, Smith)
"This Is for the Lover in You" (Meyers)
"Work It Out" (Beard)
"Pop Along Kid" (Beard)
"It's Not What You Got (It's How You Use It)" (Shelby) Carrie Lucas Portrait of Carrie SOLAR
"Career Girl" (Beard)
"Fashion" (Beard, Shelby)
"In The Raw" (Meyers, Sylvers) 1981 The Whispers Love Is Where You Find It SOLAR
"Turn Me Out" (Beard, Meyers, Shelby)
"Cruisin' In" (Beard, Sylvers)
"Emergency" (Beard, Shelby)
"Reach Out" (Beard, Sylvers) The Sylvers Concept SOLAR
"Come Back Lover, Come Back" (Beard, Shelby)
"I'm Getting Over" (Beard, Shelby)
"Taking Over" (Meyers, Sylvers)
"P.S. (The Unfinished Letter)" (Meyers)
"Pain Got a Hold on Me" (Meyers, Shelby) Dynasty The Second Adventure SOLAR
"High Time (I Left You Baby)" (Meyers)
"Sweeter as the Days Go By" (Smith) Shalamar Go for It SOLAR
"Good Feelings" (Shelby)
"Strokin'" (Smith) 1982 Dynasty Right Back at Cha! SOLAR
"Does That Ring A Bell" (Meyers)
"Straight Out" (Meyers)
"That's the Way I Feel About You" (Meyers, Shelby, Smith)
"A Night to Remember" (Beard, Meyers, Sylvers) Shalamar Friends SOLAR
"Help Me" (Beard)
"On Top Of The World" (Meyers)
"I Don't Wanna Be the Last to Know" (Beard, Shelby)
"Friends" (Beard, Shelby)
"Playing To Win" (Sylvers)
"I Just Stopped Because I Had To" (Beard)
"There It Is" (Beard, Meyers, Sylvers)
"I Can Make You Feel Good" (Shelby)
"The Man In My Life" (Meyers) Klymaxx Girls Will Be Girls SOLAR
"Don't Hide Your Love" (Shelby)
"Men" (Shelby) Carrie Lucas Still in Love SOLAR
"I Just Can't Do Without Your Love" (Shelby)
"Keep Your Love Around" (Meyers, Shelby) 1983 The Whispers Love for Love SOLAR
"Closer" (Meyers) Shalamar The Look SOLAR
"Disappearing Act" (Meyers)
"Over and Over" (Shelby)
"You Won't Miss Love (Until It's Gone)" (Smith)
"So Good" (Smith) 1984 The Whispers So Good SOLAR
"In One Love And Out The Other" (Meyers) The Sylvers Bizarre Geffen
"Got To Be Crazy" (Meyers)
"Step Right Up" (Meyers) 1985 Collage Shine The Light MCA
"Tuff Love" (Beard, Shelby, Smith) 1986 Dynasty Daydreamin' SOLAR
"Love I Can Bank On" (Meyers (Producer)) 1987 Lakeside Power SOLAR
"Way Out" (Shelby) 1988 Dynasty Out of Control SOLAR
"You Come First" (Meyers (Producer)) 1989 Ralph Butler Sincerely Yours SOLAR
"Cheap Shot" (Carmenatti, Nelson) 1990 Absolute For All Seasons SOLAR / Epic
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (Carmenatti, Nelson)
"I Count On Your Love" (Smith)
"For All Seasons" (Carmenatti, Smith)
"Kiss Me" (Smith)
"When We're Eye To Eye" (Smith)
"Why Lead Me On" (Carmenatti, Thomas) Shalamar Wake Up SOLAR / Epic
"Pink Box" (Carmenatti, Thomas)
"Let The Moon Shine" (Carmenatti) Lakeside Party Patrol SOLAR / Epic
"Money" (Nelson)
"Sailing" (Nelson)
"So Fine" (Shelby, Smith)
"You're The Only One" (Smith)
"Gotta Lambada" (Carmenatti, Smith) Absolute Lambada Soundtrack SOLAR / Epic
"Rock Lambada" (Smith, Thomas) Johnny Thomas Jr.
"Sata" (Carmenatti, Nelson) Brenda K. Starr
"Give It Up" (Carmenatti, Nelson) Judette Warren
"Another Lover" (Carmenatti, Nelson) 1992 3rd Avenue Let's Talk About Love SOLAR / Epic
"Sneaking In The Alley With Sally" (Nelson)
"Annie's Apple Pie" (Carmenatti, Thomas)
"Let's Take Our Time" (Nelson)
"Let's Talk About Love" (Nelson)
"Playing The Fool" (Shelby, Smith)
"Show Me" (Carmenatti)
"Love Me Just A Little Bit More" (Carmenatti, Nelson)
"One Kiss" (Nelson)
"Imagination" (Carmenatti) 1993 The Deele An Invitation To Love SOLAR
"Feel It" (Carmenatti)
"Rewind The Tape" (Carmenatti)
"You're So Good To Me" (Smith, Thomas) 1995 The Whispers Toast To The Ladies Capitol

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Kennedy, Gerrick D. (September 29, 2010). "Babyface looks back on Solar Records founder Richard Griffey's 'fantastic voyage'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Hevesi, Dennis (October 4, 2010). "Dick Griffey, Founder of Solar Records, Is Dead at 71". The New York Times. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Vozick-Levinson, Simon. "Solar Records founder Dick Griffey dies at 71". ew.com. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Gayle, Stephen (July 1982). Solar Empire Strikes Gold (Magazine ed.). Black Enterprise Magazine. pp. 36, 37, 38. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Kronemeyer, David. "Dick Griffey RIP – Solar Records". deconstructingpopculture.com. Deconstructing Pop Culture. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  6. ^ Morris, Chris (April 27, 1996). Right Stuff Licenses Solar Masters (Magazine ed.). Artists & Music: Billboard Magazine. p. 12. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
  7. ^ "Issue 77 The JA Edition for Aug & Sept 2018". The Soul Survivors Magazine.
  8. ^ https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/virgil-roberts. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ "Soul Train CLUB | Solar Radio".
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