Soma Records (U.S. label)

Soma Records was an American record label, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and owned by wholesale record distributor Amos Heilicher. The Soma name was "Amos" spelled backwards. Heilicher, along with his brother Danny, was also in the jukebox and wholesale record distribution businesses, and owned the Musicland chain of retail music stores.

Started in 1954, Soma began mainly recording polka music, old-time country and western and jazz groups. Its first hit was Bobby Vee's 1959 "Suzie Baby", which was a regional smash before Liberty Records bought up the master and issued it nationally.

Among hits released by Soma were "Mule Skinner Blues" by The Fendermen (purchased from Wisconsin's Cuca label), "Liar, Liar" by The Castaways, "Run, Run, Run" by The Gestures and "Surfin' Bird" by The Trashmen. The last record was distributed by Soma, but recorded on the Garrett Records label - George Garrett was an engineer who ran the board on many Soma recordings at their Kay Bank Studios. Soma/Kay Bank recorded many local and regional rock groups during the 1960s, including The Accents, Gregory Dee and The Avanties, The Underbeats, and The Del Counts, as well as distributing other smaller labels (such as Garrett, Bangar, Golden Ring and Studio City). Country singer Dave Dudley's first album, containing his biggest hit "Six Days on the Road", was released on Golden Ring Records in 1963, and distributed by Soma until Mercury Records bought the rights.

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