Daptone Records was formed in 2001 by Gabriel Roth (Bosco Mann) and Neal Sugarman. Daptone was born out of the closure of Desco Records, a label run by Roth with fellow musician Philip Lehman who both played in the band Soul Providers.[3] Roth and Lehman ended their band and business relationship in 2000. Roth, who had played with Sharon Jones as part of the Soul Providers, subsequently founded a new label with Neal Sugarman, leader of The Sugarman 3, as the home of their new group, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings.
Penrose, a Southern California offshoot of Daptone began by Bosco Mann in 2020.[9]
Wick, a subsidiary founded in the late 2010s with a roster of rock-leaning artists.[10]
Recording studios
Daptone built their studio, called Daptone's House of Soul, in a converted two-family home in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn on Troutman Street. It was very run down when they first rented it, and the neighborhood was not great. Daptone Records has its offices in the top floor, the studio is on the ground floor. The label built the studio from scratch, and made the decision to not have computers, but to rely completely on the more old-fashioned analog recording methods to make music. There are tape machines and a CD recorder, but no Pro Tools or digital reverbs.[11]
The studio is where they have recorded most of their releases. Their distinctive sound is a product of the studio acoustics, recording only on analog tape (no digital), and mixing done by Roth. The recording studio and engineering personnel have been sought out by record producers such as Mark Ronson.[12]
↑Mao, Jeff "Chairman"; Roth, Gabriel (February 11, 2010). "Gabriel Roth, Daptone Records, New York"(Video interview (includes transcript)). Red Bull Music Academy 2010. London.
Mao, Jeff "Chairman"; Roth, Gabriel (February 11, 2010). "Gabriel Roth, Daptone Records, New York"(Video interview (includes transcript)). Red Bull Music Academy 2010. London.
