Compass Records Group has announced the addition of Red House Records to its label family. Red House, the 34-year-old St Paul, MN based imprint, is an iconic brand in Americana and Folk music and has been home to a long list of cornerstone artists of the genre, including The Wailin’ Jennys, John Gorka, The Cactus Blossoms, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, Eliza Gilkyson, Lucy Kaplansky, Robin and Linda Williams, and Greg Brown, the legendary Iowa-based singer/songwriter whose debut album launched the label.
Compass co-founders Alison Brown and Garry West first met Red House founder, Bob Feldman at a conference in 1995 in the early days of their label. Both were struck by his transparency and willingness to share his inside knowledge of the business, and over the next 10-years their mentoring relationship evolved into a mutual friendship, with Feldman and West often serving as an advisor and sounding board for each other.
West said, “When we first launched Compass we were really learning the business from the ground up. Of all the people from whom we would seek advice, Bob was always the most straightforward and would tell it like it was. His support was immeasurable and we were extremely grateful for his willingness to take us under his wing. I have to admit it gave me a great feeling of accomplishment when, over time, Bob started calling me to compare notes.”
Adds Brown, “It is incredibly meaningful to us to be able to carry Red House’s legacy into the future. We are really excited to work with such a fine roster of artists and are committed to keeping Red House’s brand of folk and Americana music alive.”
Since Feldman’s death in 2006, his widow, Beth Friend, has been overseeing Red House operations. “It was time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life, and I believe Compass is the place for Red House Records to continue to grow and flourish.”
