Parasol Records is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 independent record label

Independent record label

An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...

 based out of Urbana, Illinois

Urbana, Illinois

Urbana is the county seat of Champaign County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,250. Urbana is the tenth-most populous city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area....

. The label was founded by Geoff Merritt as an outgrowth of the catalogue Parasol Mail Order (which was started in 1991

1991 in music

See also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year...

).
The Parasol Records banner also includes the smaller labels associated with it, including Mud, Spur, Hidden Agenda and Galaxy Gramophone.
The majority of Parasol's releases have been indie pop

Indie pop

Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...

 CD and 7" vinyl

Gramophone record

A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...

 single

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

s. Artists signed to Parasol Records are:
16 Tons, The 1900s, 7% Solution, Absinthe Blind

Absinthe Blind

Absinthe Blind was an American Shoegaze and Dream pop group from Urbana, Illinois. The first group was formed by Seth Fein, Tristan Wraight and Adam Fein in 1996, by merging Adam Fein's group and Tristan Wraight and Seth Fein's The Dr. Johanson Band. Dr. Johanson Band bassist Mike Zolfo was then...

, Acid House Kings

Acid House Kings

Acid House Kings is a Swedish indie pop band. It was founded in 1991 by Joakim Ödlund and brothers Niklas and Johan Angergård .-History:...

, The Action

The Action

The Action were an English band of the 1960s. They were part of the mod subculture, and played soul music-influenced pop music.-Career:The band were formed as The Boys in August 1963, in Kentish Town, North West London. After Peter Watson joined them as an additional guitarist in 1965, they changed...

, AK-Momo

AK-momo

AK-Momo are a musical duo from Stockholm, Sweden. They met through mutual friends at a bar in central Stockholm. Olsson invited Malmborg to his studio for a visit. The group consists of Anna Karin von Malmborg and Mattias Olsson...

, Bikeride

Bikeride

Bikeride was an American indie rock band fronted by Tony Carbone. Their record companies of the past have included is Hidden Agenda, a part of Parasol Records, and Choclaty! Records...

, Bruno, Matt, Budgie Jacket, Busytoby, C-Clamp

C-clamp

A C-clamp is a type of clamp device typically used to hold a wood or metal workpiece, and are often used in, but are not limited to, carpentry and welding...

, Doleful Lions

Doleful Lions

The Doleful Lions are a pop experience headed up by frontman Jonathan Scott and usually brother Robert Scott. All releases have been by Parasol Records out of Illinois. They have been featured on MOJO magazine's compilation CD's "The Who Covered" and "In My Room" a Beach Boys Tribute...

, Elsinore

Elsinore (band)

Elsinore is a rock band from Champaign, Illinois currently signed to Parasol Records. They have released two studio albums, one live album, and three EPs.-Discography:-EPs:*Harmonic Impulsion...

, Honcho Overload, Hot Glue Gun, Lanterna

Lanterna

Lanterna is a musical project led by guitarist Henry Frayne, formerly of Ack-Ack, Area and The Moon Seven Times. Their tracks are evocative soundscapes, usually instrumental, that focus on Frayne's melodic guitar work awash in effects.-History:...

, The Moon Seven Times, Neilson Hubbard

Neilson Hubbard

Neilson Hubbard is an American singer-songwriter, musician and producer. His first band was called This Living Hand formed with Clay Jones . They signed to Adam Duritz's label, E Pluribus Unum. After the band split up, Hubbard went on to record three solo albums, The Slide Project, Why Men Fail and...

, Hum

Hum (band)

Hum is a post-hardcore band from Champaign, Illinois. They are best known for their 1995 radio hit "Stars." Hum has not been consistently active as a recording or touring group since 2000.-Founding and early recordings:...

, Jack & the Beanstalk, Jenifer Jackson, Ryan Groff and many others.

Geoff Merritt and friend Ric Menck (Velvet Crush

Velvet Crush

Velvet Crush is a power pop band from Rhode Island that achieved prominence in indie-rock circles in the early- and mid-1990s. The band broke up in 1996 but re-formed in 1998 and have continued to record, releasing their most recent album in 2004...

) also run Reaction Recordings -- best known for the "Songs of the Pogo" (Walt Kelly

Walt Kelly

Walter Crawford Kelly, Jr. , or Walt Kelly, was an American animator and cartoonist, best known for the comic strip, Pogo. He began his animation career in 1936 at Walt Disney Studios, contributing to Pinocchio and Fantasia. Kelly resigned in 1941 at the age of 28 to work at Post-Hall Syndicate,...

 and Norman Monath) re-release along with re-releases from The Action

The Action

The Action were an English band of the 1960s. They were part of the mod subculture, and played soul music-influenced pop music.-Career:The band were formed as The Boys in August 1963, in Kentish Town, North West London. After Peter Watson joined them as an additional guitarist in 1965, they changed...

, The Vertebrats

The Vertebrats

The Vertebrats are a musical group formed in the twin cities of Champaign-Urbana , Illinois, initially active from 1979 until 1982. They are credited with being one of the originators of a local CU DIY music scene that still exists...

, Crippled Pilgrims and Richard Lloyd.