De-Lite Records
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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De-Lite Records whose formal name was De-Lite Recorded Sound Corporation was a record label specializing in R&B music. It was founded in 1969 by music producer Gene Redd and one of the label's first signings was Kool and the Gang whose self-titled instrumental was their first big R&B hit in that year. Kool and the Gang was the most successful act for the label, scoring many R&B hits for the label.
In the 70s, Pickwick International took over distribution of the label, and Kool and The Gang's massive pop crossover success began in 1973 with their first Top 40 crossover hit , "Funky Stuff".
PolyGram later purchased Pickwick, and took over distribution and acquired the label which was managed by Polygram subsidiary Mercury Records which maintained the De-Lite imprint for Kool And The Gangs's releases thru 1985, when their releases began to appear on Mercury itself. In 1996, Polygram merged with Universal Music, whose subsidiary, Island Records now manages the De-Lite catalogue.
