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Daptone Records

Daptone Records is a funk and soul independent record label based in Brooklyn, New York.[1] Best known as the home of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and Charles Bradley, the label boasts a roster which includes Menahan Street Band, The Budos Band, The Sugarman 3, and Antibalas, and runs the recording studio Daptone's House of Soul.[2]

History

Daptone Records was formed in 2001 by Gabriel Roth (Bosco Mann) and Neal Sugarman. Daptone was born out of the closure of Desco Records, a label run by Roth with fellow musician Philip Lehman who both played in the band Soul Providers.[3] Roth and Lehman ended their band and business relationship in 2000. Roth, who had played with Sharon Jones as part of the Soul Providers, subsequently founded a new label with Neal Sugarman, leader of The Sugarman 3, as the home of their new group, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings.

Their first release was 2002's Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.[4] In their first four years, Daptone would also put out Sharon Jones' sophomore album, Naturally, as well as original releases by the Sugarman 3 and Dap-Kings-adjacent The Budos Band.

During this time, they also converted a two-family home in Bushwick, Brooklyn into an analog recording studio space. The first album recorded there was Antibalas's "Who Is this America?" in July 2003. Producer Mark Ronson became a fan of the studio. He brought in Amy Winehouse to record parts of her album Back to Black there with The Dap-Kings and Antibalas members Nick Movshon and Victor Axelrod.[4] The Dap-Kings would tour with Winehouse in 2007.[3]

In addition to Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Daptone has recorded and released the music of Antibalas, The Sugarman 3, The Budos Band, The Poets of Rhythm, The Mystery Lights, The Daktaris, The Mighty Imperials, Lee Fields, Charles Bradley, Binky Griptite, The Sha La Das, and Naomi Davis. The Daptone Record label is inexorably tied to Sharon Jones. The label and members of her band were with her during the last weeks before her death.[5]

Since its founding, Daptone has released over one hundred 45" singles and fifty albums.[6]

Imprints

As of 2021, Daptone operates four specialty imprints.

Recording studios

Daptone built their studio, called Daptone's House of Soul, in a converted two-family home in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn on Troutman Street. It was very run down when they first rented it, and the neighborhood was not great. Daptone Records has its offices in the top floor, the studio is on the ground floor. The label built the studio from scratch, and made the decision to not have computers, but to rely completely on the more old-fashioned analog recording methods to make music. There are tape machines and a CD recorder, but no Pro Tools or digital reverbs.[11]

The studio is where they have recorded most of their releases. Their distinctive sound is a product of the studio acoustics, recording only on analog tape (no digital), and mixing done by Roth. The recording studio and engineering personnel have been sought out by record producers such as Mark Ronson.[12]

In 2006, Amy Winehouse recorded parts of her Back to Black album at Daptone studios.[13]

In February 2009, Daptone's House of Soul was broken into and thieves made off with the better part of its equipment.[14][15]

Artists

Daptone

Dunham

Penrose

Wick

Discography

Notable awards

Grammy Awards

A2IM Libera Awards

See also

References

  1. ^ Knafo, Saki (December 5, 2008). "Soul Reviver - Gabriel Roth - Daptone Records - Profile". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "ABOUT – Daptone Records". daptonerecords.com. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Gross, Terry (November 28, 2007). "Sharon Jones Is 'Nobody's Baby'". Fresh Air. NPR.
  4. ^ a b "How Daptone Records Is Healing After Two Years of Profound Loss: 'We're Going to Go On'". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  5. ^ Roberts, Randall (November 20, 2016). "Dap-Kings' Gabriel Roth recalls Sharon Jones' last days: 'She didn't want to stop singing'". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^ Bloom, Madison. "Daptone Records to Release 100th 45 RPM Single Featuring Charles Bradley, Sharon Jones, More". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  7. ^ "EVER-SOUL RECORDS – Daptone Records". daptonerecords.com. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  8. ^ "DUNHAM RECORDS – Daptone Records". daptonerecords.com. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  9. ^ "Daptone Records Presents: Penrose Records". Daptone Records Presents: Penrose Records. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  10. ^ "WICK RECORDS – Daptone Records". daptonerecords.com. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  11. ^ Mao, Jeff "Chairman"; Roth, Gabriel (February 11, 2010). "Gabriel Roth, Daptone Records, New York" (Video interview (includes transcript)). Red Bull Music Academy 2010. London.
  12. ^ Daley, Dan (June 2008). "Gabriel Roth: Recording For Daptone Records". Sound on Sound.
  13. ^ Kaplan, Michael (May 11, 2024). "Amy Winehouse's friends reveal what her time in NYC was like". Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  14. ^ BrooklynVegan Staff (February 17, 2009). "Daptone Records robbed…". BrooklynVegan.
  15. ^ Warren, Mathew R. (February 22, 2009). "Brooklyn Music Studio Carries On After Burglary". The New York Times.
  16. ^ "2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Nominees List". GRAMMY.com. November 24, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  17. ^ a b "2021 Nominees". Libera Awards. Archived from the original on June 14, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2021.

Further reading

External links

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