Fenton Records was an
independent record label
An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small and medium-sized enterprise, small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels ...
founded by Dave Kalmbach in the early 1960s. The label was based in
Sparta, Michigan
Sparta is a village in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,244 at the 2020 census. The village is located within Sparta Township.
Sparta is part of the Grand Rapids metropolitan area and is located about north o ...
, though is often regarded as a Grand Rapids, Michigan
garage rock
Garage rock (sometimes called garage punk or 60s punk) is a raw and energetic style of rock music that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United States and Canada, and has experienced a series of subsequent revivals. The style is ...
label.
It is known for releasing albums by Michigan garage bands such as
the Quests
The Quests was a Singaporean pop band. Founded in 1961 by guitarist Chong Chow Pin, lead guitarist Raymond Leong, bassist Henry Chua, and drummer Lim Wee Guan, they are considered the most successful Singapore band of the 1960s.
History
Fo ...
,
the Plagues, the Barons,
the Aardvarks, the Assortment, the Chancellors, the Ones,
Tonto and the Renegades, and
the Jades. Over a six-year span, the label released at least 100 45rpm records and a handful of LPs.
The record label
The Fenton Records label was started in the village of Sparta (near Grand Rapids) in the early 1960s by Dave Kalmbach, with help from business partner Bruce Smith.
Many bands that recorded with the label were from Grand Rapids, however bands from other Michigan cities like
Lansing
Lansing () is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, parts of the city extend into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. It is the sixth-most populous city in Michigan with a popul ...
,
Cedar Springs, Greenville,
Bay City, and
Grand Ledge would travel to Sparta to record at the studio.
The label and studio (Great Lakes Recording Studio) was operated out of a movie theater and was one of only three studios in the Grand Rapids area. The company was a "pay as you go" label, meaning the label offered bands recording, mastering services and vinyl pressing for a fee.
The vinyl was originally produced out of state, though later Fenton vinyl was pressed at American Record Pressing in
Owosso, Michigan
Owosso () is the largest city in Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 14,714 at the 2020 census. It is located west of Flint, and northeast of Lansing. The city is mostly surrounded by Owosso Township on its we ...
, which also made records for
Motown
Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau ...
.
Fenton subsidiaries
Fenton Records was what is known as a "vanity" label, meaning bands paid for recording time and some vinyl records. Rumor has it that if Kalmbach thought the song lacked quality, he wouldn't release it on Fenton, instead it would be tagged with a sub-label, such as ''4 Count'' or ''Buyit'' Records. Other times band members would be allowed to pick (or create) which label-name they wanted to be under, such as ''Sound of the Sceen'' and ''Vark''.
See also
*
Fenton Records discography
References
{{Authority control
American independent record labels
Garage rock record labels