Label Guide: Del-Fi
Del-Fi Records was founded and owned byBob Keane in 1958 in Hollywood, California. Keane was previously a partner inKeen Records (he changed his name from Kuhn to Keen, then Keene and Keane), where he discovered Sam Cooke, but as this endeavour didn't work out as planned, he started his own label and named it after Delphi, the Greek God of music and inspiration.
In May 1958, Keane discoveredRitchie Valens, who became an instant super star and produced several smash hits for the young label. After Valens' death in February 1959, Del-Fi managed to survive by signing new hit artists quickly. The label's successful run went on with surf band The Surfaris, Chan Romero, andThe Bobby Fuller Four.
Del-Fi had an "open door" policy - anybody with music they wanted to be released could approach the Del-Fi offices and get it played to Bob Keane. In 1963, one of those walk-ins wasFrank Zappa, who brought Mr. Keane a collection of doo-wop and surf tracks that he had written and recorded in a studio in Cucamonga, Calif. They were later released as the album "Cucamonga."
Del-Fi had two sister labels since the late 1950s,Stereo-Fi Records andDonna Records. Bob Keane also started two subsidiary labels:Mustang Records in 1964 just for Bobby Fuller and his band, andBronco Records as an R&B label, where he hiredBarry White as producer and A&R man. But in 1966, Fuller was found dead in his mother's car near his home in Los Angeles, and Del-Fi records went out of business soon after.
