Roulette Records | |
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Parent company | EMI (1989–2013) Warner Music Group (2013–present) |
Founded | 1957 |
Founder | George Goldner Joe Kolsky Morris Levy Phil Kahl |
Defunct | 1989 |
Distributor(s) | Blue Note Records (1989–2013) Rhino Entertainment (pop catalogue; North America) Parlophone (worldwide jazz; international pop catalogues) |
Genre | Various |
Country of origin | U.S. |
Location | New York City, New York |
Roulette Records was an American record company and label founded in 1957 by George Goldner, Joe Kolsky, Morris Levy and Phil Kahl, with creative control given to producers and songwriters Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. Levy was appointed director.
The label had known ties to New York City mobsters.[1] Levy ran the label with an iron fist.[2] In 1958 Roost Records was purchased. Goldner subsequently bowed out of his partnership interest in Roulette and, to cover his gambling debts, sold his record labels Tico, Rama, Gee and—years later—End and Gone to Levy, who grouped them into Roulette. Peretti and Creatore later left Roulette and worked as freelance producers for RCA Records throughout the 1960s. They co-founded Avco Records in 1969. In 1971 Roulette took over the catalog of Jubilee Records.