Constellation Records was an American
label
A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product, on which is written or printed information or symbols about the product or item. Information printed d ...
of
SOLAR Records
SOLAR (acronym for Sound of Los Angeles Records) was an American record label founded in 1977 by Dick Griffey, reconstituted out of Soul Train Records only two years after it was founded with ''Soul Train'' television show host and creator Don C ...
, and then
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group.
Pre-history
MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 wi ...
.
History
In 1981, Constellation was founded by
Dick Griffey, as an attempt to introduce more contemporary acts to Griffey's more traditionally "urban" establishment which was already being distributed through
Elektra/Asylum Records.
In 1984, Dick Griffey moved the Constellation label over to
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group.
Pre-history
MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 wi ...
for distribution, deciding to abandon contemporary music and continue the SOLAR tradition. It was a move that finally brought recognition to the label. Among the acts who shifted to the label were veteran ''Soul Train''/SOLAR first lady
Carrie Lucas (who eventually married Griffey) and
Klymaxx.
In 1987, Constellation was folded into MCA, when the artists (including Klymaxx) were transferred to MCA.
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...
owned all of its post-1984 back catalog. On the other hand,
EMI (which acquired SOLAR's back catalog after its closure in 1995) owned all of its pre-1984 back catalog.
Unidisc Music
Unidisc Music is a Canadian independent record label. The label is known for releasing rare music, that was made between the mid-1960s and late 1980s. Genres include rock, electronic, funk, soul, hip hop, jazz, reggae, Latin, disco and a c ...
currently owns most of SOLAR's (including Constellation) back catalog.
Notable Artists
*
Jon Gibson
*
Klymaxx
*
Carrie Lucas
*Bill Wolfer
*
Collage
References
External links
Official Web SiteOfficial MySpace Web Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Constellation Records
Record labels established in 1981
Defunct record labels of the United States
Soul music record labels
Soul Train
Post-disco record labels