Light Records is a

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...

record label "Big Three" music labels A record label or record company is a brand or trademark of Sound recording and reproduction, music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a Music publisher, ...

founded in 1966 by Ralph Carmichael, as a joint venture with the Waco, Texas-based

Word Records Word Records is a Christian faith-based entertainment company based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is owned by Curb Records, and is a part of Word Entertainment. It is distributed by Warner Records (the former Warner Bros. Records). History In ...

. It is a subsidiary of the

MNRK Music Group MNRK Music Group (pronounced "monarch"), formerly known as Koch Records and Entertainment One (eOne) Music/Records, is an American independent record label and music management company based in New York City. It was formed in 1987 as a music div ...

History

Light Records' first roster included Ralph Carmichael, the Carmichael Young People, Ralph Carmichael's 102 Strings recordings, and Ralph's daughter Kim (Carol) Carmichael. Other artists included

Jimmy Durante James Francis Durante ( , ; February 10, 1893 – January 29, 1980) was an American comedian, actor, singer, and pianist. His distinctive gravelly speech, Lower East Side New York accent, accent, comic language-butchery, jazz-influenced son ...

and Thurl Ravenscroft (the voice of

Tony the Tiger Tony the Tiger is the advertising cartoon anthropomorphic tiger mascot for Frosted Flakes (also known as Frosties) breakfast cereal, appearing on its packaging and advertising. After the original Kellogg's, Kellogg Company spun off its North Am ...

in cereal commercials). Light moved into Gospel music quickly, with the 1968 signing of future

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

-winners Andrae Crouch & the Disciples and ''The Oral Roberts Singers'', featuring

Richard Roberts (evangelist) Richard Lee Roberts (born November 12, 1948) is an American television evangelist and faith healer who serves as the chairman and chief executive officer of the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association. He previously served fifteen years as the pre ...

who had a hit with their opening theme ''Something Good Is Going to Happen to You'' and closing theme ''A God of Miracles'' for ''The Oral Roberts Hour''. Soon other gospel artists, including Kristle Murden,

The Archers ''The Archers'' is a British radio soap opera currently broadcast on BBC Radio 4, the corporation's main spoken-word Radio broadcasting, channel. Broadcast since 1951, it was famously billed as "an everyday story of country folk" and is now pr ...

, The Winans, Walter Hawkins, Tramaine Hawkins and Bob Bailey joined the roster. For a time, Light was also home to contemporary Christian artists such as Sweet Comfort Band, Reba Rambo-McGuire, Jamie Owens, Carman and Paul Porter. The label gained a reputation for pushing the boundaries of gospel music at this time by employing people like famed A&R executive Bill Maxwell with a pedigree in secular rock. He and several other associates were in support of the sound of gospel progressing beyond that presented by the traditional church as long as the lyrics remained Christian. Carmichael bought out Word's portion of Light/Lexicon in 1980, after ABC/CapCities had purchased Word in 1974. The Christian indie label struck a deal with

Elektra Records Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the ...

to aid in distribution circa 1982. Light was later purchased by Platinum Entertainment in 1993. After Platinum filed bankruptcy in 2001, it was renamed Compendia Music Group, and the Light label continued as an urban-gospel label. Compendia was purchased by Sheridan Square Entertainment in 2004. In a 2002 interview, Phillip White, then-vice president of Light Records highlighted the history and significance of the label: "Light Records was simply a renaissance of creativity. It heralded a step taken in gospel that has never happened since, in terms of innovation, in terms of music that became more relevant and more accessible. Light Records released music that crossed outside the church and crossed racial boundaries." As of April 2010, Light Records was owned by Entertainment One. Executive James Robinson ushered in a new era of gospel artists at Light Records circa 2010. After developing artists such as Youthful Praise featuring J.J. Hairston, Robinson was instrumental in supporting significant new releases from

Shirley Caesar Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams (Birth name, née Caesar; born October 13, 1938), known professionally as Shirley Caesar, is an American Gospel music, gospel singer. Her career began in 1951, when she signed to Federal Records at the age of 12. Thro ...

, Dorinda Clark Cole, Jonathan McReynolds, Dawkins & Dawkins, as well as Destiny's Child member

Michelle Williams Michelle Williams or Michele Williams may refer to: * Michelle Ann Williams (born circa 1965), American public health scholar * Michelle Williams (singer) (born 1979), American singer, previously a member of Destiny's Child * Michelle Williams (actr ...

References

{{Authority control MNRK Music Group American independent record labels Record labels established in 1966 Gospel music record labels

History

See also

References