Bang Records

Bang Records was created by Bert Berns in 1965 together with his partners from Atlantic Records: Ahmet Ertegun, Neshui Ertegun and Jerry Wexler (Gerald). The first letters of their names formed the label's name: BANG.

Related Topics:
Bert Berns - 1965 - Atlantic Records - Ahmet Ertegun - Neshui Ertegun - Jerry Wexler

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Berns had been staff producer at Atlantic Records for several years when the Atlantic chief executives and Berns set out to create a new independent label. Soon thereafter, Berns took sole control of the company. At Bang, Berns had an immediate string of hit records, including "I Want Candy" by The Strangeloves, "Hang On Sloopy" by The McCoys, "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison, and "Solitary Man" by Neil Diamond.

Related Topics:
The McCoys - Brown Eyed Girl - Neil Diamond

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When Berns died suddenly on December 30, 1967 as a result of a rheumatic heart condition, his wife Ilene Berns took over management. Berns' young widow signed singer/songwriter Paul Davis, who had a number of hit records in the 1970s and 1980s, including songs such as "Ride 'Em Cowboy," "I Go Crazy," "Sweet Life," "Cool Night" and "65 Love Affair." Ilene Berns also signed and developed R&B acts Brick ("Dazz") and Peabo Bryson. In the early years, Bang did its own distribution. In 1978 Bang signed a distribution deal with CBS Records, until the company was purchased in the early eighties by Columbia Records. Over the years two subsidiary labels were started: Shout Records and Bullet Records.

Related Topics:
1967 - Ilene Berns - Paul Davis - R&B - Peabo Bryson - 1978 - CBS Records - Columbia Records - Shout Records - Bullet Records

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Some of the well known Bang artists were Van Morrison and Neil Diamond.

Related Topics:
Van Morrison - Neil Diamond

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