Putumayo World Music

Putumayo World Music is a New Orleans-based record label that specializes in compilations of world music, jazz and blues.

History

Dan Storper founded Putumayo in 1975 as a retail store in New York City featuring handicrafts from around the world. Storper took the name of his company, Putumayo, from Colombia's Putumayo River Valley where he travelled in 1974. ''Putumayo'' is said to mean a heron and "the place where the river begins" in the local indigenous language. He eventually opened 7 world handicraft and clothing boutiques across the northeastern United States. In 1991, on his way home from Bali, Storper stopped in San Francisco, California. In Golden Gate Park, he heard the Nigerian band Kotoja. He was impressed by the music and started compiling international music to play in his stores. The response from the public was so positive that, in 1993, he launched Putumayo World Music and began offering compilations for sale.

Artwork

Every release features the art of Nicola Heindl. Her art is both folky and modern, and, according to the Putumayo website, "represents one of Putumayo's goals: to connect the traditional to the contemporary."

Putumayo Presents

Typically a Putumayo World Music compilation is presented as a theme under the title “Putumayo Presents:” The themes can be regional (South Africa, Caribbean, Asia), music styles (reggae, folk, Latin, jazz) and other themes ( lounge, groove, party). All albums in the series were released on both CD and cassette from 1993 to early 2000, with ''Republica Dominicana'' being the last album released on cassette.

The Putumayo Kids division was created in 2002. Since the release of the ''World Playground'' CD in 1999, Putumayo Kids music collections have received over 20 Parents' Choice Awards among other accolades.

Putumayo launched the ''Putumayo World Music Hour'' in 2000, a commercially syndicated world music radio show. Rosalie Howarth of KFOG hosts the ''Music Hour''. The weekly show is heard internationally on over 100 commercial and non-commercial stations.

In 2011, Putumayo developed a series of cultural coloring books. Beginning in 2017, Putumayo began distributing multicultural books and activity sets in partnership with publisher Barefoot Books. That same year, Putumayo started a series of world greeting card collections that have featured international folk art and photography by illustrator Nicola Heindl, photographer Emerson Matabele, Brazilian block print artist José Francisco Borges, Louisiana Folk Artist William Hemmerling, London artist Christopher Corr and Louisiana painter George Rodrigue.

Putumayo's products are sold at a network of thousands of book, gift, clothing, coffee and other specialty retailers around the world.

Many of Putumayo music collections are now available for digital download and streaming. In 2020, the company launched an ongoing series of themed streaming playlists.

Discography

* 1993
**101/103 ''The Best of World Music: Volume 1 - World Vocal'' (April 1993)
**102/104 ''The Best of World Music: Volume 2 - World Instrumental'' (April 1993)
**105/107 ''The Best of Folk Music: Contemporary Folk'' (August 1993)
**106/108 ''The Best of World Music: African'' (August 1993)
*1994
**109/110 ''Kotoja: The Super Sawalé Collection'' (July 1994)
**111/113 ''The Best of World Music: Reggae'' (July 1994)
**112/114 ''The Best of World Music: World Dance Party'' (July 1994)
**115-2 ''Shelter: The Best of Contemporary Singer-Songwriters'' (November 1994)
**116-2 ''A Putumayo Christmas'' (November 1994)
**117-2 ''The Dougie MacLean Collection'' (November 1994)
*1995
**118-2 ''The Laura Love Collection'' (March 1995)
**119-2 ''Women of the World: International'' (October 1995)
**120-2 ''Women of the World: Celtic'' (October 1995)
*1996
**121-2 ''The Touré Kunda Collection'' (19 March 1996)
**122-2 ''The Dalom Kids and Splash Collection'' (19 March 1996)
**123-2 ''A World Instrumental Collection'' (19 March 1996)
**124-2 ''A Touré Kunda, Dalom Kids / Splash and World Instrumental Sampler''
**125-2 ''A Celtic Collection'' (2 July 1996)
**126-2 ''One World'' (2 July 1996)
**127-2 ''A Johnny Clegg and Juluka Collection'' (2 July 1996)
**128-2 ''Women's Work'' (May 1996)
*1997
**129-2 ''Islands'' (4 February 1997)
**130-2 ''Travel the World with Putumayo World Music'' (8 April 1997)
**131-2 ''¡Latino! ¡Latino!'' (22 July 1997)
**132-2 ''Caribbean Party'' (22 July 1997)
**133-2 ''Women of the World: Celtic''
**134-2 ''Women of the World: Celtic II'' (9 September 1997)
**135-2 ''Music From the Coffee Lands'' (7 October 1997)
*1998
**136-2 ''Romantica'' (13 January 1998)
**137-2 ''Women of Spirit'' (10 March 1998)
**138-2 '' Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca: Mambo Yo Yo'' (19 May 1998)
**139-2 ''Afro ~ Latino'' (19 May 1998)
**140-2 ''Sam Mangwana: Galo Negro'' (19 May 1998)
**141-2 ''Celtic Tides'' (29 September 1998)
**142-2 ''Reggae Around the World'' (30 June 1998)
**143-2 ''Cairo to Casablanca'' (25 August 1998)
**144-2 ''A Native American Odyssey: Inuit to Inca'' (10 November 1998)
*1999
**145-2 ''Mali to Memphis'' (26 January 1999)
**146-2 ''Habib Koité & Bamada: Ma Ya'' (26 January 1999)
**147-2 ''Dublin to Dakar: A Celtic Odyssey'' (23 February 1999)
**148-2 ''A Mediterranean Odyssey'' (6 April 1999)
**149-2 ''Cuba'' (25 May 1999)
**150-2 ''Brasileiro'' (25 May 1999)
**151-2 ''Africa'' (13 July 1999)
**152-2 ''Oliver Mtukudzi: Tuku Music'' (13 July 1999)
**153-2 ''Caribe! Caribe!'' (22 June 1999)
**154-2 ''World Playground'' (24 August 1999)
**155-2 ''The Equation: Hazy Daze'' (28 September 1999)
**156-2 ''Cape Verde'' (12 October 1999)
**157-2 ''New World Party'' (9 November 1999)
**158-2 '' Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca: Sao Salvador'' (22 February 2000)
**159-2 ''Italian Musical Odyssey'' (24 October 2000)
*2000
**160-2 ''Zydeco'' (25 January 2000)
**161-2 ''Louisiana Gumbo'' (25 January 2000)
**162-2 ''Republica Dominicana'' (22 February 2000)
**163-2 ''South African Legends'' (25 April 2000)
**164-2 Miriam Makeba: ''Homeland'' (9 May 2000)
**166-2 ''¡Mo' Vida!'' (23 May 2000)
**167-2 ''Puerto Rico'' (23 May 2000)
**168-2 ''Oliver Mtukudzi: Paivepo'' (13 June 2000)
**169-2 ''Festa Brasil'' (27 June 2000)
**170-2 ''Chico César'' (27 June 2000)
**171-2 ''Rita Ribeiro: Perolas Aos Povos'' (27 June 2000)
**172-2 ''Latinas: Women of Latin America'' (25 July 2000)
**174-2 ''Mariana Montalvo: Cantos del Alma'' (25 July 2000)
**176-2 ''Equation: The Lucky Few'' (11 July 2000)
**180-2 ''Music from the Tea Lands'' (22 August 2000)
**181-2 ''A Putumayo World Christmas'' (26 September 2000)
**182-2 ''A Jewish Odyssey'' (26 September 2000)
*2001
**183-2 ''Carnival'' (9 January 2001)
**184-2 ''Cajun'' (9 January 2001)
**185-2 '' Gypsy Caravan'' (13 February 2001)
**186-2 ''Gardens of Eden'' (13 March 2001)
**187-2 ''Mexico'' (10 April 2001)
**188-2 ''Jamaica'' (8 May 2001)
**189-2 ''Arabic Groove'' (12 June 2001)
**190-2 ''Colombia'' (10 July 2001)
**191-2 ''African Odyssey'' (11 September 2001)
**192-2 ''Habib Koité & Bamada: Baro'' (24 July 2001)
**193-2 ''World Playground II'' (11 July 2001)
**194-2 ''Music from the Coffee Lands II'' (9 October 2001)
*2002
**195-2 ''Samba Bossa Nova'' (8 January 2002)
**196-2 ''Mississippi Blues'' (12 February 2002)
**197-2 ''Latin Groove'' (12 March 2002)
**198-2 ''World Lounge'' (9 April 2002)
**199-2 ''Oliver Mtukudzi: Vhunze Moto'' (24 April 2002)
**200-2 ''Congo to Cuba'' (21 May 2002)
**201-2 ''Latin Playground'' (11 June 2002)
**202-2 ''Asian Groove'' (27 August 2002)
**203-2 '' Rumba Flamenco'' (24 September 2002)
**204-2 ''Afro-Portuguese Odyssey'' (22 October 2002)
**205-2 '' Calypso'' (19 November 2002)
*2003
**206-2 ''Global Soul'' (14 January 2003)
**207-2 ''African Playground'' (19 February 2003)
**208-2 ''Cover the World'' (19 February 2003)
**209-2 ''Euro Lounge'' (11 March 2003)
**210-2 '' African Groove'' (22 April 2003)
**211-2 ''French Caribbean'' (20 May 2003)
**212-2 ''Dreamland'' (20 May 2003)
**213-2 ''Salsa Around the World'' (24 June 2003)
**214-2 ''The Oliver Mtukudzi Collection: The Tuku Years'' (8 July 2003)
**215-2 ''American Blues'' (26 August 2003)
**216-2 ''Brazilian Groove'' (9 September 2003)
**217-2 ''The Putumayo World Music 10th Anniversary Collection'' (21 October 2003)
**218-2 ''Christmas Around the World'' (7 October 2003)
**219-2 ''French Café'' (11 November 2003)
*2004
**220-2 ''Sahara Lounge'' (20 January 2004)
**221-2 ''World Reggae'' (24 February 2004)
**222-2 ''Sing Along with Putumayo'' (23 March 2004)
**223-2 ''Women of Africa'' (27 April 2004)
**224-2 ''Nuevo Latino'' (25 May 2004)
**225-2 ''Greece: A Musical Odyssey'' (29 June 2004)
**226-2 ''Caribbean Playground'' (27 July 2004)
**227-2 ''World Groove'' (24 August 2004)
**228-2 ''Women of Latin America'' (21 September 2004)
**229-2 ''Blues Lounge'' (5 October 2004)
**230-2 ''Music from the Chocolate Lands'' (9 November 2004)
**231-2 ''South Pacific Islands'' (23 November 2004)
*2005
**232-2 ''New Orleans'' (25 January 2005)
**233-2 '' Kermit Ruffins (1 February 2005)
**234-2 ''Acoustic Brazil'' (25 February 2005)
**235-2 ''Afro-Latin Party'' (22 March 2005)
**236-2 ''Mali'' (3 May 2005)
**237-2 ''North African Groove'' (7 June 2005)
**238-2 ''Italian Café'' (21 June 2005)
**239-2 ''Swing Around the World'' (5 July 2005)
**240-2 ''American Folk'' (9 August 2005)
**241-2 ''Latin Lounge'' (6 September 2005)
**242-2 ''French Playground'' (4 October 2005)
**243-2 ''Celtic Crossroads'' (4 October 2005)
**244-2 ''Asian Lounge'' (8 November 2005)
**804-2 ''One World, One Kid'' (2005)
*2006
**245-2 ''The Caribbean'' (10 January 2006)
**246-2 ''Reggae Playground'' (24 January 2006)
**247-2 ''Brazilian Lounge'' (21 February 2006)
**248-2 ''Turkish Groove'' (21 March 2006)
**249-2 ''Paris'' (18 April 2006)
**250-2 ''Folk Playground'' (23 May 2006)
**251-2 ''¡Baila!: A Latin Dance Party'' (23 May 2006)
**252-2 ''Music from the Wine Lands'' (27 June 2006)
**253-2 ''Blues Around the World'' (25 July 2006)
**254-2 ''Acoustic Africa'' (5 August 2006)
**255-2 ''Radio Latino'' (3 October 2006)
**256-2 ''New Orleans Christmas'' (3 October 2006)
**257-2 ''New Orleans Playground'' (17 October 2006)
**258-2 ''One World, Many Cultures'' (7 November 2006)
**259-2 ''Asian Dreamland'' (5 December 2006)
*2007
**260-2 ''A New Groove'' (30 January 2007)
**261-2 ''Women of the World: Acoustic'' (27 February 2007)
**262-2 ''Gypsy Groove'' (27 March 2007)
**263-2 ''Putumayo World Party'' (24 April 2007)
**264-2 ''Animal Playground'' (22 May 2007)
**265-2 ''Latin Jazz'' (26 June 2007)
**266-2 ''Americana'' (31 July 2007)
**267-2 ''World Hits'' (28 August 2007)
**268-2 ''Israel'' (25 September 2007)
**269-2 ''Brazilian Playground'' (25 September 2007)
**270-2 ''New Orleans Brass'' (23 October 2007)
**271-2 ''Tango Around the World'' (23 October 2007)
**272-2 '' Celtic Dreamland'' (6 November 2007)
*2008
**273-2 ''Latin Reggae'' (22 January 2008)
**274-2 ''Hawaiian Playground'' (22 January 2008)
**275-2 ''Euro Groove'' (11 March 2008)
**276-2 ''African Party'' (29 April 2008)
**277-2 ''African Dreamland'' (29 April 2008)
**278-2 ''Café Cubano'' (27 May 2008)
**279-2 ''Québec'' (10 June 2008)
**280-2 ''Reggae Around the World'' (Re-release of 142-2 with different track order and 1 track less) (22 July 2008)
**281-2 ''Acoustic France'' (19 August 2008)
**282-2 ''Acoustic Arabia'' (2 September 2008)
**283-2 ''Sesame Street Playground'' (30 September 2008)
**285-2 ''A Jazz & Blues Christmas'' (28 October 2008)
**286-2 ''Women of Jazz'' (28 October 2008)
*2009
**287 ''African Reggae'' (27 January 2009)
**288 ''India'' (24 February 2009)
**289 ''¡Salsa!'' (24 March 2009)
**290 ''Italia'' (19 May 2009)
**291 ''European Playground'' (19 May 2009)
**292 ''Brazilian Café'' (28 July 2009)
**293 ''Picnic Playground'' (28 July 2009)
**294 ''España'' (29 September 2009)
**295 ''A Family Christmas'' (27 October 2009)
**296 ''Jazz Around The World'' (27 October 2009)
*2010
**297 ''Rhythm & Blues'' (9 February 2010)
**299 ''Jazz Playground'' (9 March 2010)
**300 ''Latin Party'' (6 April 2010)
**301 ''South Africa'' (18 May 2010)
**302 ''Rock & Roll Playground'' (29 June 2010)
**303 ''Tribute to a Reggae Legend'' (13 July 2010)
**304 ''Yoga'' (14 September 2010)
**305 ''World Christmas Party'' (5 November 2010)
*2011
**306 ''Bossa Nova around the world'' (11 February 2011)
**307 ''Acoustic Dreamland'' (22 February 2011)
**308 ''Rumba, Mambo, Cha Cha Chá'' (5 April 2011)
**309 ''Jazz'' (3 May 2011)
**310 ''Kids World Party'' (28 June 2011)
**311 ''African Beat'' (30 August 2011)
**312 ''Latin Beat'' (30 August 2011)
**313 ''Acoustic Café'' (12 October 2011)
**314 ''Celtic Christmas'' (25 October 2011)
*2012
**315 ''Brazilian Beat'' (31 January 2012)
**316 ''Instrumental Dreamland'' (28 February 2012)
**317 ''African Blues'' (24 April 2012)
**318 ''Cowboy Playground'' (22 May 2012)
**319 ''Bluegrass'' (22 May 2012)
**320 ''Arabic Beat'' (31 July 2012)
**321 ''Latin Beat (Re-Release with 3 new tracks)'' (11 September 2012)
**322 ''European Playground (Re-Release with 3 new tracks)'' (11 September 2012)
**323 ''World Yoga'' (30 October 2012)
**324 ''World Sing-Along'' (30 October 2012)
*2013
**326 ''Vintage France'' (25 February 2013)
**327 ''African Beat (Updated)'' (8 March 2013)
**328 ''Rhythm & Blues (Updated)'' (8 March 2013)
**329 ''Latin Dreamland''
**330 ''Women of Brazil'' (21 May 2013)
**331 ''Brazilian Lounge (Re-Release)'' (21 May 2013)
**332 ''Brazilian Beat (Re-Release)'' (September 2013)
**333 ''Acoustic America'' (18 June 2013)
**334 ''American Playground'' (18 June 2013)
**335 ''Reggae Playground (Re-Release with 3 new tracks)'' (26 July 2013)
**336 ''World Reggae (Re-Release with 6 new tracks)'' (26 July 2013)
**337 ''Café Latino'' (24 September 2013)
**338 ''Latin Lounge (Re-Release with 3 new tracks)'' (24 September 2013)
**339 ''Jewish Celebration'' (8 November 2013)
**340 '' Acoustic Christmas'' (10 November 2013)
*2014
**341 ''Native America'' (18 February 2014)
**342 ''Music of the Andes'' (29 April 2014)
**343 ''Australia'' (27 May 2014)
**344 ''Australian Playground'' (27 May 2014)
**345 ''Americana (Re-Release with 6 new tracks)'' (22 July 2014)
**346 ''Cajun (Re-Release with 5 new tracks)'' (22 July 2014)
**347 ''Yoga Lounge'' (30 October 2014)
**348 ''Cafe Del Mundo'' (30 September 2014)
**349 ''French Christmas'' (28 October 2014)
*2015
**350 ''Celtic Café'' (6 February 2015)
**351 ''Asian Playground'' (31 March 2015)
**352 ''Animal Playground (Re-Release with 4 new tracks)'' (31 March 2015)
**353 ''Afro-Caribbean Party'' (29 May 2015)
**354 ''Vintage Latino'' (31 August 2015)
**355 ''French Dreamland'' (30 October 2015)
**357 ''French Café (Re-Release with 7 new tracks)'' (20 November 2015)
*2016
**356 ''Jazz Café'' (2 March 2016)
**358 ''French Playground (Re-Release with 4 new tracks)'' (18 March 2016)
**359 ''Mexico (Re-Release with 4 new tracks)'' (29 April 2016)
**360 ''Blues Party'' (4 July 2016)
**361 ''Acoustic Yoga'' (12 October 2016)
**362 ''African Rumba'' (11 November 2016)
**363 ''Latin Christmas'' (31 October 2016)
*2017
**364 ''Vintage Italia'' (24 March 2017)
**365 ''Italian Playground'' (24 March 2017)
**366 ''Cuba! Cuba!'' (19 May 2017)
**367 ''Cuban Playground'' (19 May 2017)
**368 ''Indian Groove'' (1 September 2017)
*2018
**369 ''African Café'' (23 February 2018)
**370 ''Kid's African Party'' (23 February 2018)
**371 ''New Orleans Party'' (20 April 2018)
**372 ''Ska Around the World'' (31 August 2018)
**374 ''Joy to the World'' (16 November 2018)
*2019
**375 ''Broadway Jazz'' (25 January 2019)
**376 ''Acoustic Women'' (5 April 2019)
**377 ''World Peace'' (14 June 2019)
**378 ''Paris Café'' (18 October 2019)
**379 ''Blues Christmas'' (29 November 2019)
*2020
**380 ''Celtic Women'' (14 January 2020)
**381 ''Brazil: Samba, Bossa & Beyond!'' (28 May 2020)
**382 ''New Orleans Mambo'' (23 October 2020)
*2021
**383 ''Yoga Dreamland'' (26 February 2021)
**384 ''World Cafe'' (30 April 2021)
**385 ''Acoustic Paris'' (5 November 2021)
**386 ''Jazz Christmas'' (26 November 2021)
*2022
**387 ''World Chill'' (25 February 2022) (only digital)
**388 ''Acoustic World'' (8 April 2022) (only digital) (first collection of discovery series)
**389 ''Blues Cafe'' (29 April 2022)
**390 ''Global Groove'' (20 May 2022) (only digital) (second collection of discovery series)
**391 ''World Party'' (24 June 2022) (only digital) (third collection of discovery series)
**392 ''Acoustic World 2'' (8 July 2022) (only digital)
**393 ''Afro Cubano'' (29 July 2022)
**394 ''Reggae World'' (19 August 2022) (only digital)
**395 ''World Party 2'' (16 September 2022) (only digital)
**396 ''Feels Like Home Linda Ronstadt's Musical Odyssey (30 September 2022)
**397 ''Global Lounge'' (14 October 2022) (only digital)
**398 ''World Relaxation'' (18 November 2022) (only digital)
**399 ''World Party 3'' (2 December 2022) (only digital)
**400 ''Acoustic World 3'' (16 December 2022) (only digital)

References

External links

Official site

Putumayo on BandCamp

Putumayo World Music Hour Scheduled Broadcasts

{{Authority control

American record labels
Record labels established in 1993
Folk record labels
Latin American music record labels
World music record labels