Success
The SOLAR success story was by no means confined to these two acts, as the label was also known for several others who enjoyed success, including: Dynasty, Lakeside, Midnight Star, Klymaxx, Calloway, Carrie Lucas, Collage and the The Deele — which introduced singer/songwriter/producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and future music executive Antonio "L.A." Reid. Griffey had always believed in giving new talents the opportunity to create and develop their craft, and he was introduced to songwriters/producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis by his A & R rep Dina Ruth Andrews who was the teams first manager, Reggie and Vincent Calloway, and Leon F. Sylvers III. The "SOLAR sound" was a collective effort, with artists working on each other's sessions and artists encouraged to be creative. Sylvers who became SOLAR's house producer in 1978. His signature basslines and productions helped mould the hit sound of SOLAR, which is funky, progressive dance music infused with soul and disco.
From 1977 to 1981, SOLAR was distributed through RCA Records as it was ever since it was Soul Train Records two years prior. Constellation Records (which has no relation to the Chicago-based indie label founded by Ewart Abner), which opened in 1981, was an attempt to introduce more contemporary acts to Griffey's more traditionally "urban" establishment and was already being distributed through Elektra/Asylum Records, making it only natural for the main SOLAR label to jump ship to Elektra for distribution when it left RCA.
SOLAR's relationship with Elektra/Asylum, like its relationship with RCA, lasted for six years (from 1981 to 1987). During this period, SOLAR changed their logo and classic label design to complement not only its Constellation imprint, but also to reflect a uniform look of sorts for the logos of labels owned by or affiliated with Elektra. Ironically enough, Dick Griffey moved the Constellation label over to MCA Records for distribution in 1984, deciding now to abandon contemporary music and this time continue the SOLAR tradition, which, in turn, was a move that finally brought recognition to the label (which now became a "boutique label" of sorts for MCA).
Veteran Soul Train/SOLAR first lady Carrie Lucas (who eventually married Griffey) and then up-and-coming act Klymaxx were shifted to the Constellation label, and as a result, Klymaxx finally scored hits for themselves and the label, including "The Men All Pause", "I Miss You" and "Meeting In The Ladies Room". Constellation was folded into MCA in 1986, when the artists, including Klymaxx, were transferred to MCA. Universal Music Group owned all of the post-1984 Constellation back catalog, until it was purchased by Unidisc Music in 2009. In Sept 2012 When Warner Music Group Purchased part of EMI Europe's Acquistions SOLAR Was A subsidiary of EMI Group Which Is Now owned by Universal Music Group
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Famous quotes containing the word success:
“I was elected a Captain of Volunteers—a success which gave me more pleasure than any I have had since.”
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
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“He was a self-made man who owed his lack of success to nobody.”
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