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Sussex Records

Sussex Records Inc. was an American, Los Angeles-based record label, founded by music executive and businessman Clarence Avant, that existed from 1969 through 1975. Its catalog is now controlled by Universal Music.

Sussex Records
Parent companySussex Records
Founded1969
FounderClarence Avant
Defunct1975
StatusDefunct
Distributor(s)Buddah Records (1969–1974)
self-distributed (1974–1975)
GenreRhythm and blues
Country of originUnited States
LocationLos Angeles, California

History

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Sussex Records was launched in December 1969 by Avant, who had previously set up another mainly black music label, Venture Records for MGM. An offshoot of Buddah Records, initially it was located at 6430 W Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, at the corner of Sunset and Cahuenga Blvds. In 1972, it moved to 6255 W Sunset Blvd, Suite 1902. All records were distributed by Buddah Records until 1974, when Sussex switched to independent distribution until its closure. The company folded in July 1975, due to unpaid state and federal taxes amounting to $62,000: the Internal Revenue Service padlocked the offices and auctioned off all assets. Many of the label's master tapes disappeared and were presumed destroyed.

Bill Withers was the label's best-selling artist with a string of pop and R&B hits and several successful albums. They included three million-selling singles, "Ain't No Sunshine" (#3 pop, #6 R&B, 1971), the label's only chart-topper, "Lean on Me" (#1 pop and #1 R&B, 1972) and "Use Me" (#2 pop and #2 R&B, 1972). His recordings, many self-written and produced, were later purchased by Columbia Records when Withers signed with the label in 1975.

In 1971, the label notched another gold disc with the Detroit guitarist Dennis Coffey, who reached #6 on the pop chart and #9 on the R&B chart with "Scorpio". The Presidents had a hit for Sussex in 1970 with "5-10-15-20 (25-30 Years of Love)" (#5 R&B, #11 pop), produced by Van McCoy. The group from Washington D.C., had released the label's first single, "For You", a minor R&B hit, a few months earlier.

In 1972, another guitarist was signed named Eddy Senay, who had a hit "Hot Thang"; he also covered "Ain't No Sunshine". Later the track "Cameo" started to break out worldwide as a popular hit with his fans.

After Sussex folded, Avant went on to form another record company, Tabu Records.

Subsidiary

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A subsidiary of Sussex was Clarama Records. It was launched by Clarence Avant in 1974.[1][2] One act to get in early on the label was Brenda & Albert who were formerly with Faith Hope and Charity.[3]

Sixto Rodriguez

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The label is also known for signing American singer-songwriter and guitarist Sixto Rodriguez, who recorded and released the albums Cold Fact in 1970 and Coming from Reality in 1971. Rodriguez was dropped from the label after both albums sold poorly in the US.

Despite the poor sales of the albums in the US, they sold extremely well in South Africa, Australia and surrounding countries. The albums proved successful and influential, eventually being certified platinum and causing a cultural phenomenon. Rodriguez has since remained a mystery artist in his native country of the US, but a cultural figure in many others.

Rodriguez found more fame with the release of the 2012 documentary film Searching for Sugar Man, a documentary film directed and written by Malik Bendjelloul, which details the efforts in the late 1990s of two Cape Town fans, Stephen "Sugar" Segerman and Craig Bartholomew Strydom, to find out whether the rumored death of Rodriguez was true and, if not, to discover what had become of him.

Artists

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Billboard, February 16, 1974 - Page 1 Avant Moving Sussex & New Label Through Indies By Claude Hall
  2. ^ Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office: Trademarks, Vol. 933 Number 1 April 1, 1975 - June 17, 1975 U. S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE TM 201
  3. ^ Billboard, February 16, 1974 - Page 6 Avant Moving Sussex & New Label Through Indies By Claude Hall * Continued from page 1
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