Fontana Records

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Fontana Records
Image:Fontanalogo.png
Parent company Universal Music Group
Founded 1954
Distributing label Interscope-Geffen-A&M (US)
Polydor Records (UK)
Genre Various
Country of origin US
Location Los Angeles, California
Official website Official website of Fontana Records
1960s Fontana 45 rpm record
1960s Fontana 45 rpm record

Fontana Records is a record label which was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records. When Philips restructured its music operations it dropped Fontana in favour of Vertigo Records and Mercury Records. In the seventies PolyGram acquired the dormant label.

Fontana's U.S. counterpart label was started in 1964 and distributed by Mercury Records. Among the hitmakers were: Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders, The Troggs, The New Vaudeville Band, and Steam, all of whom had #1 hits on the label. Other successful Fontana artists included The Silkie and Nana Mouskouri. Mercury discontinued this label (and its other subsidiary, Smash) in 1970.

Fontana was revived in the 1980s and is currently an active division of Universal Music Group. Today the label operates under Interscope Records.

The name has also been revived as independent label distibutor Fontana Distribution.

[edit] 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

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[edit] External links

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