History
Started in 1954, Soma began mainly recording polka music, old-time country and western and jazz groups. Its first hit was Bobby Vee's 1959 "Suzie Baby", which was a regional smash before Liberty Records bought up the master and issued it nationally.
Among hits released by Soma were "Mule Skinner Blues" by The Fendermen, "Liar, Liar" by The Castaways, "Run, Run, Run" by The Gestures and "Surfin' Bird" by The Trashmen. The last record was distributed by Soma, but recorded on the Garrett Records label - George Garrett was an engineer who ran the board on many Soma recordings. Soma recorded many local and regional rock groups during the 1960s, including The Accents, Gregory Dee and The Avanties, The Underbeats, and The Del Counts, as well as distributing other smaller labels (such as Garrett, Bangar, Golden Ring and Studio City). Country singer Dave Dudley's first album, containing his biggest hit "Six Days on the Road", was released on Golden Ring Records in 1963, and distributed by Soma until Mercury Records bought the rights.
Heilicher had some ownership in the local recording studio, Kay Bank, where most of Soma's recordings were made.
Soma continued releasing recordings until 1967, when the co-owned record distributing company was merged into Pickwick Records. The Heilicher brothers exited the recorded music business in 1977.
Amos Heilicher died of pneumonia in August 2011, aged 90.
Read more about this topic: Soma Records (U.S. Label)
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