Vitacoustic - Biography

Biography - Vitacoustic

USA

Label Timeline

1947

[b APRIL[/b] Universal Recording Studios' Bill Putnam discovers a new sound technique and Vitacoustic opens to exploit it. Putnam has some connection but only on the sidelines. Lloyd Garrett and Jack Buckley are in charge. Jerry Murad will be the first release on the new label.

SEPTEMBER Expansion planned into Race and Hillbilly music. First Race release is a Todd Rhodes disc originally on Sensation two months ago. Negro series in 1000 numbering.
Canadian pressing plant (Vita's sixth) opened in Windsor, Ontario, for Harmonicats' big seller “Peg o' my Heart” and future Canadian material.
Putnam draws out of Vitacoustic, taking some of the staff with him. He announces a reactivation of his planned Universal label that had laid dormant since the Vitacoustic deal. Jerry Murad goes from Vitaphone to Universal as he is directly contracted to Putnam.

1948
FEB Vitacoustic in court for non-payment of debts. They claim the Petrillo ban is causing great hardship to both them and many other companies and are granted further time for payment.

In the same month Vita signs a distribution deal with Oriole in England for Continental Europe and British Empire excluding Canada, possibly even a deal to release Oriole material in the US.
Pressings in Rio de Janerio are about to start too.

APRIL Bankruptcy court spells out Vita's debts. The IRS is a main claimant, music publishers also want monies, as does Jerry Murad. A re-organisation programm will be attempted as there are assets too.

AUGUST Bankruptcy proceedings in motion. Bill Putnam of Universal Records becomes General Manager and is expected to help with the finalization of bankruptcy proceedings; Jack Buckley and Lloyd Garrett to work under him.

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