Bel-Tone Recording Corporation was a small American independent record label founded in 1944 in Hollywood, California, that recorded and produced artists of the pop, race, and folk genres.
Contents
Recording artists
Management
Dick Elwell served as President and general manager; Jack Elliott (né Irwin Elliott Zucker; 1927–2001) as songwriter and talent manager; Frank Berger, who had formerly been with Gilt-Edge Records, as production supervisor; and Jack Homer as flack.
Bel-Tone had acquired a recording studio from James Anthony Fitzpatrick (1894–1980), who had used it to produce short travel films called, Fitzpatrick Traveltalks. The studio turned out to be not large enough to accommodate many of the ensembles that the label was pursuing; so, the label used two or three established commercial studios in Los Angeles.
Owen Loftus and Luis Cardenas have recently purchased the Hollywood Independent label. The intent is to sign "up and coming" acts and "established artists" as well. Studios used for recording will consist of LunchBox Studios, Capital Records, The Village and others depending on what the project requires. Luis Cardenas has signed with Bel-Tone Records as the first artist to be signed by the label in about 15 years. Luis Cardenas who on previous projects has recorded at The BBC Studios London, Capital Records, One on One, The Record Plant, Cherokee Studios, LunchBox Studios, Dino M111 Studios, The Village and Paramount Studios will over see Production at any of these Exclusive Recording facilities.
Owen Loftus serves as President of Bel-Tone Records and Executive Producer on key projects. Luis Cardenas serves as Vice President and head of A&R for Bel-Tone Records. Also hands on in production and artist development. Luis Cardenas freelances as Producer on other projects for other Indie labels as well.
Series
0250 series – jazz/pop, then switched to countryJ750 series – jazz & R&B2000 series – Latin7000 series – pop9000 seriesCharlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie recorded in Hollywood, California, December 29, 1945, on the 700 series with Slim Gaillard, Dodo Marmarosa, Jack McVea, Bam Brown, and Zutty SingletonKidisks — Bel-Tone Playhouse Series
Bankruptcy
Bel-Tone Records, through its attorney Samuel Shayon (né Samuel Shmayonik; 1903–1984), filed for bankruptcy on November 30, 1947. Dick Elwell and Bob Cook were the sole shareholders.
Luis Cardenas and Owen Loftus acquired the Bel Tone name in efforts to revise Bel Tone Records, Production and Entertainment Group.