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Del-Fi Records

DEL-FI RECORDS
 
 
Del-Fi Records  was an American record label based in Hollywood, California and owned by Bob Keane.  The label’s first single released was “Caravan” by Henri Rose released in 1958; however, the label was most famous for signing Ritchie Valens.  Valens’ first single for the label was “Come On Let’s Go”, which was a hit.  His next single, “Donna” / “La Bamba”, was an even bigger big hit, and brought notability to the label.  Johnny Crawford, the co-star of the television series The Rifleman, was the Del-Fi artist who recorded the most hit singles.  Del-Fi ceased operating in 1974.  (More from Wikipedia)
 
 

Ritchie Valens was signed by producer Bob Keane to Del-Fi Records in 1958 after he saw one of the Silhouettes shows; it was Keane who suggested that he shorten his last name and add the “t” to his first.  Bob Keane recalls of that night:  “I’ll never forget the first time I saw Ritchie.  He had a small, somewhat beat-up guitar amp worth about fifty bucks.  He stood up there on stage, with complete command of his audience.  He was this bull-like kid with an opera tenor’s torso.  I knew he had a lot of potential.  It should go without saying that what I heard impressed me, but I had no idea what to do with the raw talent I saw up there on the stage.” 

 

(June 2013/1)