ABSTRACT

Record executive Dave Kapp founded Kapp Records in 1954 after stints at Decca and RCA Victor. His major discovery and the label’s flagship artist was Roger Williams, who charted on Kapp throughout its existence. Other notable Kapp artists included Bing Crosby, the Chad Mitchell Trio, Jack Jones, Louis Armstrong (the #1 hit “Hello, Dolly” [Kapp 573]), and Cher. During the mid-1960s, Kapp licensed material from the British Pye label, enjoying success with singles by the “British Invasion” group the Searchers. Dave Kapp sold Kapp Records to MCA in 1967. The label’s last major hit came in 1971 with Cher’s recording of “Gypsies,Tramps, and Thieves” (Kapp 2146). MCA discontinued it as an imprint in1973.