Del-Fi Records was an American record label based in Hollywood, California and owned by Bob Keane. The label's first single released was "Caravan" by Henri Rose released in 1958, but the label was most famous for signing Ritchie Valens. Valens' first single for the label was "

Come On Let's Go "Come On, Let's Go" is a song written and originally recorded by Ritchie Valens in 1958. It was the first of four charting singles from his self-titled debut album, and reached number 42 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in late 1958. Renditi ...

", which was a hit. His next single, " Donna"/" La Bamba", was an even bigger hit, and brought national notoriety to the label. Johnny Crawford, the co-star of the television series '' The Rifleman'', was the Del-Fi artist who recorded the most hit singles.

History

In 1966, legal action was taken against Del-Fi by attorney Al Schlesinger for Anthony Music, which filed a $122,000 suit over breach of contract, fraud and money owed. The principal stockholder of the company, Anthony Hilder, claimed the dispute was over royalties not being paid as per an alleged agreement for the masters of albums by The Centurians, Dave Myers and The Surftones, and The Sentinels, and an LP ''Battle of the Surf Bands''.

Sister labels

Keane soon launched Stereo-Fi Records and Donna Records as sister labels. Donna Records was started in 1959, named after Ritchie Valens' hit of the same name. By 1965, Bob Keane felt the Del-Fi and Donna labels were aging, so the Bronco Records and

Mustang Records Del-Fi Records was an American record label based in Hollywood, California and owned by Bob Keane. The label's first single released was "Caravan" by Henri Rose released in 1958, but the label was most famous for signing Ritchie Valens. Valens' fi ...

labels were started in their place, capitalizing on their new, exciting themes. The Mustang label achieved fame through

Bobby Fuller Four The Bobby Fuller Four (sometimes stylized as Bobby Fuller 4) was a popular mid-1960s American rock & roll band started by Bobby Fuller. First formed in 1962 in Fuller's hometown of El Paso, Texas, the group went on to produce some of its most m ...

(previously on Donna Records), producing their biggest hit, "I Fought the Law" in 1965. Their fame continued into 1966, with assistance from the then A&R man Barry White, but Fuller's death later that year brought a halt to the label, and

closed down in 1967.

Legacy

Del-Fi was briefly revived in 1987 for 7" and 12" releases of "La Bamba '87", featuring remixes of the Richie Valens classic, capitalizing on the success of the film, '' La Bamba''. Keane resurrected the Del-Fi label in 1995 and reissued many original recordings on CD (some under the Donna label), and signed some new acts as well. In September 2003, Bob Keane sold the Del-Fi and its subsidiaries to the Warner Music Group. Today, it is now run under Rhino Entertainment and reissues some of its older material.

Various artist compilations

In 1999, the label released ''Del-Fi Girl Groups: Gee Baby Gee''. Compiled and annotated by

Steve Stanley Steve Stanley (born 1970) is an American music historian, reissue producer, graphic artist, musician, and the founder of Now Sounds, a reissue record label established in 2007 and distributed by Cherry Red Records. Early life Raised in Oklahoma i ...

, the CD featured 21 vintage tracks from the Del-Fi label. They were by girl groups and singers such as The Ladybugs, Brenda Holloway, Pippy Shannon, Lori Martin, Pierre And Anne-Lyse, Desda, Mary Sawrey, and seven tracks by The Sisters, a group that featured Ersi Arvizu.

New recordings

One band that has recorded for the label is

The El Caminos The El Caminos are a Japanese surf music band who were formed in the 1990s. They had an album that charted in the late 1990s. Background They have been described as a band that peruses the sounds of surf music from the 1960s without limits. They ...

, a Japanese surf music band who had their 1997 album ''Reverb Explosion'' released on Del-Fi. It got to #12 on the CMJ Core Radio chart.''CMJ New Music Report'', September 8, 1997
Page 9 CORE RADIO
/ref>

Artists

* Addrisi Brothers * Eden Ahbez * The Centurians * Johnny Crawford * Bobby Curtola *

(Donna & Mustang) * Roy Gaines *

The Gallahads The Gallahads were an American doo-wop band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1952. The band released three singles during its existence and were popular particularly in Los Angeles, California for their song, "(I'm Just A) Lonely Guy". The grou ...

* Ron Holden (Donna) * Brenda Holloway * Bruce Johnston *

Little Caesar & the Romans Little Caesar & the Romans were an American musical group from Los Angeles, California, United States, active briefly in the 1960s. The Romans minus Little Caesar began recording in 1959 as The Cubans, but changed their name to The Upfronts after ...

* The Lively Ones *

Outrageous Cherry Outrageous Cherry were an American psychedelic pop / power pop band from Detroit, Michigan, United States. Outrageous Cherry formed in 1991, and soon expanded to a four-piece after performing live in 1993. The group has released 13 albums, includ ...

Josephine Roberto Josephine Roberto (born December 25, 1977), known by her stage name Banig or Banig Roberto, is an international recording artist, songwriter, actress and music producer born in Pasay, Philippines. Although she began singing when she was 3, her p ...

aka 'Banig' * Chan Romero *Spider Webb and the Insects ( Tom Fogerty) * Ritchie Valens * Barry White (Bronco) *

Frank Zappa Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American musician, composer, and bandleader. His work is characterized by wikt:nonconformity, nonconformity, Free improvisation, free-form improvisation, sound experimen ...

Later artists

* Kari Wuhrer

References

{{Authority control Ritchie Valens American record labels Record labels based in California Rock and roll record labels Record labels established in 1958 Record labels disestablished in 2003 1958 establishments in California Defunct companies based in Greater Los Angeles Warner Music labels Labels distributed by Warner Music Group 2003 disestablishments in California