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Record label From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fervor Records is an American independent record label based in Phoenix, Arizona. The company was founded in 1989 and is owned and operated by David Hilker and Jeff Freundlich. The label creates compilations of previously released and unreleased music, reissues original albums and singles, and releases music from heritage and contemporary artists across numerous genres. The catalog includes many Billboard charting songs as well as major label, Hall of Fame, and Grammy Award-winning artists. Fervor licenses music to television shows, films, advertising, and other media applications. The label releases limited physical product on CD, cassette, vinyl, and has products available on digital platforms worldwide.
| Fervor Records | |
|---|---|
| |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | David Hilker, Ted Bulger, Ron Pick, Michael Charlesworth |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Official website | fervor-records |
Fervor Records was founded in 1989 in Phoenix, Arizona by entrepreneurs David Hilker, Ted Bulger, Ron Pick and Michael Charlesworth as a subsidiary to Wild Whirled Music Group which also included Mount Pilot Music Publishing Company, BMI.[1][2] The company was first headquartered in an office/warehouse space on Gelding Drive in the Scottsdale Airpark in Scottsdale, Arizona.
From their offices in Scottsdale, the fledgling company produced the first charity Christmas compilation in Arizona, which sold over 4,000 copies in six weeks. The disc, Southwest Holiday benefited Central Arizona Shelter Services, a homeless shelter in Phoenix. "Our goal," said Hilker, "was to unite the music community and do something positive."[3][4][5]
In 1991, Hilker and his songwriting/production partner, John Costello, opened a recording studio, Wild Whirled Recording, at 600 West Dunlap Avenue in the Sunnyslope neighborhood of Phoenix. It was in a strip mall next to a laundromat. This address also served as Fervor's new headquarters. The studio serviced many client recording sessions.[6] Hilker and Costello also produced a variety of singers and rappers focused primarily on hip-hop and R&B.[5]
Fervor achieved local success with three additional compilation releases: Arizona Unplugged, Blue Saguaro, and Musicians for St. Mary's (a second charity release, this one for St. Mary's Food Bank in Phoenix).[7] Artists appearing on these albums include Jeff Dayton, The Phoenix Boys Choir, Hans Olson, Brian Page & The Next, Cliff Sarde, genepool, Sonya Jason, J. David Sloan and Billy Williams, Bob Corritore, Chico Chism, Big Pete Pearson, The Rocket 88's, Sam Taylor, Scotty Spenner, Chief Gillame, Rena Haus, Buddy Reed and the Rip It Ups, The Hoodoo Kings, London Thompson, Pete Pancrazi and Diana Lee.[1]
By the mid 1990s, Bulger, Pick and Charlesworth had left the company, leaving Hilker in charge. In 2001, Fervor Records moved its headquarters and recording studios to its current location in Sunnyslope, Arizona.[8]
In 2002, Hilker and Costello teamed with New York City native, Jeff Freundlich, and formed Whirled Music Publishing, Inc. to expand further into music publishing and licensing. By 2006, Whirled Music Publishing, Inc. had acquired Fervor Records and affiliated brands.[9] In 2016, John Costello left the company. Hilker serves as the company's CEO and Freundlich as COO.
In 2007, the label began acquiring the rights to vintage songs and recordings from the 1920s through the 2000s, spanning numerous styles and sub-genres of pop, country, soul, blues, Americana, gospel, electronic, jazz, hip hop, rock and R&B.
Fervor Records controls rights to music from historical labels including Morrison Records (Seattle, Washington)[9] MCI, Liberty Bell, REV, Ramco, ARA,[10] Raina, and Mascot Records (Phoenix, Arizona) Royal Audio Music aka RAM Records, K, and Clif Records (Shreveport, Louisiana)[11] Comstock Records (Shawnee, Kansas), Trend Records (Canada) Up With People Records (Tucson, Arizona), Trend Records (Hollywood, California), Trod Nossel Studios (Wallingford, Connecticut), WSJ Records (New York), and Triplett Records (Chicago, Illinois).[12]
Songs in the Fervor catalog that have charted on Billboard include "Cookin" by the Al Casey Combo,[13] "Reconsider Me" by Margaret Lewis and Mira Ann Smith,[14][15][16] and "A Teenager Feels it Too" by Denny Reed[17]
Several of the artists in the Fervor catalog have received Grammy awards including Bill Champlin,[18] Waylon Jennings[19]Steve Vaus (aka Buck Howdy),[20] Donna Fargo,[21] and Jack Miller.[22][23]
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Fervor Records has a special interest in finding and promoting artists from Arizona. A large part of the Fervor catalog is the work of Arizona artists. In 2007, Fervor secured a significant catalog of recordings from Audio Recorders of Arizona, a music studio owned and managed by Floyd Ramsey. Ramsey had bequeathed the catalog to Arizona music historian John P. Dixon. Ramsey's studio recorded produced, and released music from notable musicians such as Sanford Clark, Duane Eddy, Donnie Owens, Lee Hazlewood, Al Casey, Waylon Jennings, Wayne Newton, Donna Fargo, and many others. In 2017, Fervor released the double LP Mid-Century Sounds: Deep Cuts from the Desert, which features many rare songs from the Audio Recorder's catalog.[24][25][26]
Fervor also has other Arizona artists on their roster including Bruce Connole (The Jetzons, The Strand, The Cryptics, Suicide Kings/The Revenants), Hans Olson, Francine Reed, Big Pete Pearson, Chuck Hall, The Pistoleros, Loosely Tight, Connie Conway, Phil & the Frantics, Brian Page & The Next, Blue Shoes, Patti LaSalle, Jimmy Spellman, The Pills, Gentlemen Afterdark, The Sugar Thieves, Fayuca, Super Stereo, CooBee Coo, Noonday Devils, Christopher Blue, Andy Gonzales Y Sus Amigos, Charity Lockhart, Paris James, Diana Lee, and We the People.[1]
Fervor controls the back catalog of British bassist and songwriter Tony Stevens. Stevens is well known as a founding member of Savoy Brown and co-founder of Foghat. The label also owns several songs featuring vocalist Bill Champlin of the band, Chicago.
In 2011, Fervor signed Tempe, Arizona band Super Stereo. The band made it to the Top Five on MTVU and stayed on their charts for 35 weeks with their video single, "Life Passed Me By."[27][28]
Also in 2011, NYC rapper Tarik NuClothes was signed to Fervor Records. His single, "Bubble Shaker" was featured on MTV and other popular TV shows.[29][30][31]
In 2013, Fervor signed Phoenix Latin act, Fayuca. Their single, "Por Que Seguir" came in first place on the MTV show The Freshman and went into full rotation on the MTVU broadcast network.[32][33]
In 2014, Fervor Records signed upstate New York band Reckless Serenade. The band's video single "Two Years Too Late" won first place on mtvU's The Freshman and went into full rotation on the MTVU broadcast network.[34][35]
In 2015, Fervor Records signed Gilbert, Arizona duo, CooBee Coo. Their video single "Never Gonna Leave Your Side" won first place on mtvU's The Freshman and went into full rotation on the mtvU broadcast network.[36]
Placing music in TV and film has become the label's primary focus. Over the years, Fervor has created relationships with music supervisors from many different production companies. Fervor has also collected a catalog of music which spans almost 100 years and a wide variety of genres. Music supervisors often call Fervor when they need music to fit a certain scene but don't want a famous song.[37] Song placements help perpetuate the legacy of artists while exposing their work to new audiences.[38] Music from the Fervor catalog has been placed in many feature films including The Glass Castle (2017),[26] Green Book (2018), The Mule (2018), Glass (2019), and If Beale Street Could Talk (2018);[5] popular video-streaming series including Stranger Things, Ozark, and Narcos;[5] and numerous television series including This is Us, One Tree Hill, and Parenthood.[9] Fervor's music has also been played in a variety of commercials.
In 2018, Fervor Records was named Best Record Label in Phoenix, Arizona by the Phoenix New Times.[39]
The label markets the classic collection as Fervor Records One Stop Shop Vintage Masters Series, Exploring the Sound of American Music Culture. Catalog titles include:
Fervor Records Vintage Masters is not affiliated with the label Vintage Masters, Inc.
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