Indigo Records

Indigo Records was formed in Hollywood, California, in September 1960, by record promoters and producers Don Wayne and Vic Gargano. The year before, the two had entered the record business by partnering to form Inferno Records, which issued only a few releases. Gargano then formed Indigo as a pop label.{{cite web|url=http://www.numerogroup.com/d/garganos-garage-lavendar-magenta-indigo-blue-fin|title=Garganos Garage |website=Numerogroup.com|access-date=May 13, 2021}} Artist promoter and manager Jim Lee was brought on as head of A&R.

One of the label's earliest and most successful acts was The Innocents, a vocal trio from the Los Angeles neighborhood of Sun Valley. Starting out as The Echoes, they had been signed by Herb Alpert to Andex Records, where they recorded a couple of tracks.{{cite web|url=http://doo-wop.blogg.org/the-innocents-aka-the-echoes-5-a116514816|title=Doo-Wop Groups, Biography & Discography: The Innocents aka The Echoes |website=Doo-wop.blogg.org|access-date=May 14, 2021}} After more rehearsals, the Innocents took their composition "Honest I Do" to Kim Fowley and Gary Paxton at American Studios, who recorded it and sold the master to Indigo.{{cite web|url=http://theinnocentsmusic.com/innocents/?page_id=5 | title=The Innocents | website=TheInnocentsMusic.com | access-date=May 14, 2021}} A&R Director Jim Lee signed the group to a record deal and personal management.{{cite book |last=Selvin |first=Joel |title=Hollywood Eden: Electric Guitars, Fast Cars, and the Myth of the California Paradise |publisher=House of Anansi Press|date=2021 |page=166}}

In October 1960, "Honest I Do" reached #1 on the record charts in Los Angeles, and #28 nationally.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1960-10-01|title=Billboard Hot 100, October 1, 1960}} In January 1961, the group's follow-up single, "Gee Whiz," also reached the #28 position on the national charts.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1961-01-21|title=Billboard Hot 100, January 21, 1961}}

Indigo A&R Director Jim Lee discovered Kathy Young while managing a personal appearance by the Innocents at the Pacific Ocean Park amusement pier in Santa Monica.{{cite book |last=Childs |first=Marti Smiley |title=Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone? -- Volume 1 |publisher=EditPros LLC |date=2011 |page=166}} He handed her a song written in 1953 by Gene Pearson and recorded by his group, The Rivileers, titled A Thousand Stars. {{cite book |last=Stafford |first=Caroline |title=Halfway to Paradise: The Life of Billy Fury |publisher=Omnibus Press Press|date=2019 |page=166}} During the recording session, the Innocents joined Young in what was described as completely impromptu and unplanned harmonizing.{{cite book |last=Musso|first=Anthony P.|title=Setting the Record Straight: The music and careers of recording artists from the 1950s and early 1960s... in their own words |publisher=AuthorHouse|date=2007|page=356}} "A Thousand Stars," released as performed by "Kathy Young with The Innocents," reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1960, behind Elvis Presley's "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" and Floyd Cramer's Last Date.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1960-12-17|title=Billboard Hot 100, December 17, 1960}}

Young's follow-up, "Happy Birthday Blues", peaked at No. 30 on the Hot 100 in 1961.[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p21540/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}} Billboard Singles], Allmusic.com Subsequent singles, such as "Magic Is the Night" and "The Great Pretender", failed to chart in the Top 40.

Despite the successes of the Innocents and Kathy Young, and the release of singles and albums by other artists signed to the label, Indigo overextended itself financially, and shut down in the fall of 1962.

In 1963, Don Wayne took a temporary position as road manager for the Everly Brothers, on a two-week tour of Canada. He stayed with them nine years.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/5043026-Don-Wayne-6 |title=Discogs.com - Don Wayne |access-date=May 14, 2021}}

Vic Gargano remained in the record business, forming several successor labels: Magenta, Lavender, Invicta, Condor, and Blue Fin. "In 1974 he trotted Indigo out for one final run, briefly managing and producing Chameleon, a two husband and wife quartet billed as the 'American Abba,'" and had retired by the early 1980s. He died in August 2004.{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?n=victor-trifone-gargano&pid=2548146 |title=Legacy.com - Victor Trifone Gargano |access-date=May 14, 2021}}

Seeing the handwriting on the wall, Jim Lee left in the fall of 1961.{{cite magazine |author= |title=Jim Lee Exits A&R Post At Indigo |magazine=Cashbox |date=October 28, 1961}} He founded Monogram Records where, in addition to continuing to produce records for Kathy Young, he discovered and produced records for Chris Montez.

Indigo artists' contributions to the pop music scene have endured in the decades since their original release.

The Innocents' sessions were compiled by Ace Records in a 25-track CD titled "The Innocents: The Complete Indigo Recordings," released in 1992.

Kathy Young's recordings were compiled by Crystal Ball Records in a 24-track CD titled "A Thousand Stars," released in 2014.

Source: https://www.discogs.com/label/126251-Indigo-Records-4

• The Bob Rogers Orchestra All That And This Too GBM-1501A 1961
• Los Camperos Puro Mariachi IND-LP-501 1961
• Cy Coleman Selections from 'Wildcat GBM-502/GBST-502 1961'
• The Innocents Innocently Yours IND-LP-503 1961
• Kathy Young With The Innocents The Sound Of Kathy Young IND-LP-504 1961

Source: http://www.bsnpubs.com/la/indigo/indigo.html

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Category:American record labels

Category:Pop record labels

Category:Record labels established in 1960

Category:Record labels disestablished in 1962

Category:Companies based in Los Angeles

Category:Defunct record labels of the United States