Fenton Records was an

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

founded by Dave Kalmbach in the early 1960s. The label was based in

Sparta, Michigan Sparta is a village in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,244 at the 2020 census. The village is located within Sparta Township. Sparta is part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area and is located about north of ...

, though is often regarded as a Grand Rapids, Michigan

garage rock Garage rock (sometimes called garage punk or 60s punk) is a raw and energetic style of rock and roll that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United States and Canada, and has experienced a series of subsequent revivals. The sty ...

label. It is known for releasing albums by Michigan garage bands such as

the Quests The Quests was a Singaporean band. Some sources considered them the most successful Singapore band of the 1960s. History Formation and early years In 1960, Chong Chow Pin (referred to by his nickname "Jap"), Raymond Leong, Henry Chua and L ...

, the Plagues, the Barons, the Aardvarks, the Assortment, the Chancellors, the Ones, Tonto and the Renegades, and the Jades. Over a six-year span, the label released at least 100 45rpm records and a handful of LPs.

The record label

The Fenton Records label was started in the village of Sparta (near Grand Rapids) in the early 1960s by Dave Kalmbach, with help from business partner Bruce Smith. Many bands that recorded with the label were from Grand Rapids, however bands from other Michigan cities like

Lansing Lansing () is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is mostly in Ingham County, although portions of the city extend west into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. The 2020 census placed the city's population at 112,644, makin ...

, Cedar Springs, Greenville, Bay City, and

Grand Ledge Grand Ledge is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city lies mostly within Eaton County, though a small portion extends into Clinton County to the north. The city sits above the Grand River 12.7 miles (20.4 kilometers) west of downtown Lan ...

would travel to Sparta to record at the studio. The label and studio (Great Lakes Recording Studio) was operated out of a movie theater and was one of only three studios in the Grand Rapids area. The company was a "pay as you go" label, meaning the label offered bands recording, mastering services and vinyl pressing for a fee. The vinyl was originally produced out of state, though later Fenton vinyl was pressed at American Record Pressing in

Owosso, Michigan Owosso is the largest city in Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,194 at the 2010 census. The city is mostly surrounded by Owosso Township on its west, but the two are administered autonomously. The city wa ...

, which also made records for

Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

Fenton subsidiaries

Fenton Records was what is known as a "vanity" label, meaning bands paid for recording time and some vinyl records. Rumor has it that if Kalmbach thought the song lacked quality, he wouldn't release it on Fenton, instead it would be tagged with a sub-label, such as ''4 Count'' or ''Buyit'' Records. Other times band members would be allowed to pick (or create) which label-name they wanted to be under, such as ''Sound of the Sceen'' and ''Vark''.

References

{{Authority control American independent record labels Garage rock record labels

The record label

Fenton subsidiaries

See also

References