Bethlehem Records
| Bethlehem Records | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Parent company | Verse Music Group |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Founder | Gus Wildi |
| Status | Defunct |
| Genre | Jazz |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | New York City |
Bethlehem Records was a jazz record company and label founded by Gus Wildi in 1953.
Bethlehem is remembered for its jazz releases from the 1950s. Producers included Creed Taylor and Teddy Charles. Bethlehem released the first albums recorded by singers Chris Connor (the dual releases Chris Connor Sings Lullabys for Lovers and Chris Connor Sings Lullabys of Birdland) in 1954, Nina Simone (Little Girl Blue) in 1958, and singer/actress Julie London. London did not record a full album for the label. She recorded four songs that would later be released on the compilation LP Bethlehem's Girlfriends in 1955, which also featured Chris Connor and Carmen McRae. Bethlehem recorded the debut album by Marilyn Moore and the album Somebody Loves Me by Jerri Winters, in addition to many many modern jazz musicians: Howard McGhee, Herbie Nichols, Pat Moran McCoy, Oscar Pettiford.
In 1958, Bethlehem began a distributing deal with King Records. In 1962, it was sold and absorbed by King. After Syd Nathan's death in 1968, King was acquired by Starday Records and relaunched as Starday and King Records. It was acquired in 1970 by Lin Broadcasting and in 1972 by Tennessee Recording & Publishing, until it ended up with the acquisition by Gusto Records in 1974. At that time, Bethlehem was purchased by the Cayre brothers' Salsoul Records, who initially intended to release its back catalog for inexpensive 8-track tapes in the 1970s. In 1993, the Bethlehem name was revived as Bethlehem Music Company, although Salsoul is often used as an imprint. It was licensed by the Verse Music Group in 2010.
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