Zafiro Records
Founded1952
Defunct1999
Distributor(s)Decca, Coco, Cetra
GenreVarious
Country of originSpain
LocationMadrid

Zafiro Records was a major Spanish record label that issued records from the 1950s until the 1980s. In addition to issuing recordings by Spanish artists, the label issued many recordings by US and UK artists. Artists to have their recordings issued on the label include Juan Bau, Luisito Gasán, Malena Gracia, Buddy Guy, Los Brincos, Marisol, and Ornella Vanoni etc.

Background

The Zafiro label was established in 1952. According to the March 27, 1982 issue of Billboard, the company was managed by Esteban Garcia Morencos. Under Morencos was Antonio Ortega, and international business was handled by Angel Prieto.[1]

Artists that established their careers with the label were, Maria Dolores Pradera, Los Brincos, Los Relampagos,Juan and Junior, Juan Pardo, Massiel and Juan Manuel Serrat. Rock groups that were signed to the label included Tequila, Obus, Baron Rojo and Leno.[2] One of the artists that had a no. 1 hit in Spain on the label was the UK pop group The Korgis with "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime".[3][4] At least three of Miguel Fleta's recordings have been issued on Zafiro.[5]

According to Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Volume 1, the label founded the Chapa Disco label. It also changed its name to Serdisco in the 1980s.[6] The label would eventually be acquired by RCA in 1999.[7]

History

1950s to 1960s

In December 1962, artists signed to the label included guitarist Narcisco Yepes, the Maravella Orchestra, solo artists; Nella Columbo, Carlos Acuna, Maria Dolores Pradera, Carlitos Romano and Lolita Garrido, groups; Hermanas Benitez, Losa LLaneros, Los Rivero and Los Quechuas.[8]

It was reported by Cash Box in the magazine's June 20, 1964 issue that Zafiro executives Esteban Garcia Morencos and Eduardo Sancho had travelled to the UK. A contract between Zafiro and UK record company Decca had been signed. This was to enable worldwide distribution of Zafiro's recordings via Decca. A rumor had also emerged that Zafiro had started up a new label which was to be just for youth-oriented music. Former Fonogram promotion manager Luis Satorius was to be the new label's A&R man.[9]

In October 1967, on a Zafiro release, the recording duo Juan & Junior had a top ten hit in Spain with "Nos falta fe".[10]

1970s

In 1970, Record World had reported in the November 7 issue that Esteban Morencos had gone to Milan to sign a three-year deal with Cetra Records for their catalogue's distribution in Spain.[11]

It was reported by Billboard in the magazine's October 2, 1976 issue that the US based Coco label had entered into a deal with Zafiro to handle the distribution of the label's catalogue in the United States, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Participants in the deal making were Sam Coff and Harvey Averne, Coco partners and Zafiro's president Esteban Morencos. With the new deal in place, Juan Bau's album Penas and La Otra Espana by makers of the hit "Eres Tu", Mocedades were the first records to be handled under the new agreement.[12] At that time, Zafiro had also released Canciones de Amor which was a compilation of hits for artist Juan Manuel Serrat who had recently returned to Spain after being away for a year.[13]

1980s to 1990s

In the March 27, 1982 issue of Billboard an ad showed the label had achieved success with 29 platinum and 15 gold records.[14]

In 1998 Blanca Salcedo had come to Zafiro from the Spanish arm of Columbia Records. In 1999 Salcedo was appointed to the position of general manager of RCA Spain. Also that year RCA in Spain had acquired Zafiro.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Billboard, March 27, 1982 - S-14 Record Companies *Continued from page S-4
  2. ↑ Billboard, March 27, 1982 - S-14 Record Companies *Continued from page S-4
  3. ↑ Ourselves Together, July 16, 2013 - 100 ’80’s songs #17: Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime – The Korgis By Davis Minogue
  4. ↑ Billboard, March 27, 1982 - S-14 Record Companies *Continued from page S-4
  5. ↑ Giacomo Puccini A Discography, By Roger Flury · 2012 - ISBN 9780810883291, 0810883295 - Page 445 Tosca 5.1904 Miguel FLETA; with orchestra; Carlo Sabajno (Cond).
  6. ↑ Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Volume 1, Bloomsbury Publishing, 6 March 2003 - ISBN 9781847144737, 184714473X - Page 776 -Zafiro (Serdisco) (Spain)
  7. ↑ Billboard, October 30, 1999 - Page 40 International, RCA In Spain Absorbs Zafiro Records, Spanish Imprint Has Los Del Río, Major Catalog Of '70s1'80s Hard Rock by BY HOWELL LLEWELLYN
  8. ↑ Billboard Music Week, December 29, 1962 Section 2 - Page 178 ZAFIRO RECORDS, the Spanish label with big hits
  9. ↑ Cash Box, June 20, 1964 - Page 36 Cash Box SPAIN
  10. ↑ Billboard, October 21, 1967 - Page 54 Billboard HITS OF THE WORLD, SPAIN, This Week 2, Last Week 2
  11. ↑ Record World, November 7, 1970 - Page 42 Italian Items (Continued from page 40)
  12. ↑ Billboard, October 2, 1976 - Page 90 Latin, Coco Deals For Zafiro Catalog
  13. ↑ Billboard, October 2, 1976 - Page 88 International, From The Music Capitals Of The World, BARCELONA
  14. ↑ Billboard, March 27, 1982 - S-13 Zafiro
  15. ↑ Billboard, October 30, 1999 - Page 40 International, RCA In Spain Absorbs Zafiro Records, Spanish Imprint Has Los Del Río, Major Catalog Of '70s1'80s Hard Rock by BY HOWELL LLEWELLYN
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