Walt Disney Records
Encyclopedia
Walt Disney Records is a family music record label
owned by the Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Records was formed in 1956 as Disneyland Records
. Before that time, Disney recordings were licensed out to a variety of other labels such as (RCA
, Decca
, Capitol
, and ABC-Paramount Records). It was Walt Disney
’s brother Roy O. Disney
who suggested that Walt Disney Productions (now the modern-day Walt Disney Company) form their own record label. Roy enlisted long time staffer Jimmy Johnson to head this new division – Disneyland Records
. It adopted its present name in 1989. The label currently releases soundtracks for films and other divisions as well as traditional albums.
(renowned musician and founder of the legendary Sunset Sound Recorders
in Hollywood) to head up the creative end of this new enterprise. Tutti’s expertise and skill established the label’s initial forays into long-form musical albums, which included jazz interpretations of Disney Standards (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
, Bambi
, and Cinderella
) and original musical concept albums and expanded the format of soundtracks by including selections from the score as well as the famous songs. Tutti’s connections within the music industry also brought to the label the likes of Mary Martin
, Louis Armstrong
, Louis Prima
, Jerry Colonna, and Phil Harris
. It was also Tutti’s idea that the popular Mouseketeer, Annette Funicello
, become the label’s first artist in residence. For her albums, and more ‘contemporary’ selections, the Buena Vista Records label was established under the Disneyland Records banner.
While looking for the right material for Annette, Tutti and his team discovered the songwriting duo of Richard M. Sherman
and Robert B. Sherman
after hearing one of their songs on the radio. The two were brought to the Disney studio in Burbank where they eventually became the first staff songwriters for the Disney company. They not only penned a good deal of Annette’s songs, but were also responsible for most of the iconic Disney songs of the 1960s and beyond – “It's a Small World” and “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room
” for the theme parks, as well as the songs from Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book
, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
and Bedknobs and Broomsticks
. In 1989, Disneyland Records was renamed Walt Disney Records. In addition to the Buena Vista label, the Disney Audio Entertainment (1990–1991), and Disney Sound (2004–present) labels were established to delineate the many varied styles of recordings the company released.
Today, Walt Disney Records' selection of products ranges from traditional albums and soundtracks to audiobooks and karaoke
albums. It releases music from movies under Walt Disney Pictures
and its film labels, Disney Channel Original Movies, and other feature-length productions. It also releases the Disneymania
and Radio Disney Jams
albums while still keeping to its family-oriented representation by endorsing read-along albums for pre-schoolers and classic Disney music.
NOTE: Any Un-signed Artist who performs on a soundtrack released by Walt Disney Records(and works within Disney Enterprises inc.) is automatically signed to Walt Disney Records
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
owned by the Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Records was formed in 1956 as Disneyland Records
Disneyland Records
Disneyland Records is the original name of the Walt Disney Company's record company.After long associations with primarily RCA Victor Records, with a few select titles on Capitol, Disneyland Records was established by the Disney studio in 1956 with its first release entitled A Child's Garden of...
. Before that time, Disney recordings were licensed out to a variety of other labels such as (RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, Capitol
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, and ABC-Paramount Records). It was Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
’s brother Roy O. Disney
Roy O. Disney
Roy Oliver Disney was, with his younger brother, Walt Disney, the co-founder of what is now The Walt Disney Company.-Early life:...
who suggested that Walt Disney Productions (now the modern-day Walt Disney Company) form their own record label. Roy enlisted long time staffer Jimmy Johnson to head this new division – Disneyland Records
Disneyland Records
Disneyland Records is the original name of the Walt Disney Company's record company.After long associations with primarily RCA Victor Records, with a few select titles on Capitol, Disneyland Records was established by the Disney studio in 1956 with its first release entitled A Child's Garden of...
. It adopted its present name in 1989. The label currently releases soundtracks for films and other divisions as well as traditional albums.
History
Jimmy Johnson brought in Tutti CamarataTutti Camarata
Salvador "Tutti" Camarata was a composer, arranger and trumpeter.-Early life and career:Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, Camarata studied music at Juilliard School in New York - a student of Bernard Wagenaar, Joseph Littau, Cesare Sodero, and Jan Meyerowitz...
(renowned musician and founder of the legendary Sunset Sound Recorders
Sunset Sound Recorders
Sunset Sound Recorders is a recording studio in Hollywood, California, located at 6650 Sunset Boulevard.The Sunset Sound Recorders complex was converted in 1962 by Walt Disney's Director of Recording, Tutti Camarata, from a collection of old commercial and residential buildings - some built more...
in Hollywood) to head up the creative end of this new enterprise. Tutti’s expertise and skill established the label’s initial forays into long-form musical albums, which included jazz interpretations of Disney Standards (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated film based on Snow White, a German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It was the first full-length cel-animated feature in motion picture history, as well as the first animated feature film produced in America, the first produced in full...
, Bambi
Bambi
Bambi is a 1942 American animated film directed by David Hand , produced by Walt Disney and based on the book Bambi, A Life in the Woods by Austrian author Felix Salten...
, and Cinderella
Cinderella (1950 film)
Cinderella is a 1950 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and based on the fairy tale "Cendrillon" by Charles Perrault. Twelfth in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film had a limited release on February 15, 1950 by RKO Radio Pictures. Directing credits go to Clyde Geronimi,...
) and original musical concept albums and expanded the format of soundtracks by including selections from the score as well as the famous songs. Tutti’s connections within the music industry also brought to the label the likes of Mary Martin
Mary Martin
Mary Virginia Martin was an American actress and singer. She originated many roles over her career including Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Maria in The Sound of Music. She was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1989...
, Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
, Louis Prima
Louis Prima
Louis Prima was a Sicilian American singer, actor, songwriter, and trumpeter. Prima rode the musical trends of his time, starting with his seven-piece New Orleans style jazz band in the 1920s, then successively leading a swing combo in the 1930s, a big band in the 1940s, a Vegas lounge act in the...
, Jerry Colonna, and Phil Harris
Phil Harris
Harris and Faye married in 1941; it was a second marriage for both and lasted 54 years, until Harris's death. Harris engaged in a fistfight at the Trocadero nightclub in 1938 with RKO studio mogul Bob Stevens; the cause was reported to be over Faye after Stevens and Faye had ended a romantic...
. It was also Tutti’s idea that the popular Mouseketeer, Annette Funicello
Annette Funicello
Annette Joanne Funicello is an American singer and actress. She was Walt Disney's most popular cast member of the original Mickey Mouse Club, and went on to appear in a series of beach party films.-Early life and early stardom:...
, become the label’s first artist in residence. For her albums, and more ‘contemporary’ selections, the Buena Vista Records label was established under the Disneyland Records banner.
While looking for the right material for Annette, Tutti and his team discovered the songwriting duo of Richard M. Sherman
Richard M. Sherman
Richard Morton Sherman is an American songwriter who specializes in musical film with his brother Robert Bernard Sherman....
and Robert B. Sherman
Robert B. Sherman
Robert Bernard Sherman is an American songwriter who specializes in musical films with his brother Richard Morton Sherman...
after hearing one of their songs on the radio. The two were brought to the Disney studio in Burbank where they eventually became the first staff songwriters for the Disney company. They not only penned a good deal of Annette’s songs, but were also responsible for most of the iconic Disney songs of the 1960s and beyond – “It's a Small World” and “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room
The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room
"The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room" is the official song for Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. It was written in 1963 by Disney staff songwriters, Robert & Richard Sherman...
” for the theme parks, as well as the songs from Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book
The Jungle Book (1967 film)
The Jungle Book is a 1967 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Released on October 18, 1967, it is the 19th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. It was inspired by the stories about the feral child Mowgli from the book of the same name by...
, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is the 22nd full-length animated film produced by Walt Disney Productions and first released on March 11, 1977....
and Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Bedknobs and Broomsticks is a 1971 musical film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by Buena Vista Distribution Company which combines live action and animation and was released in North America on December 13, 1971...
. In 1989, Disneyland Records was renamed Walt Disney Records. In addition to the Buena Vista label, the Disney Audio Entertainment (1990–1991), and Disney Sound (2004–present) labels were established to delineate the many varied styles of recordings the company released.
Today, Walt Disney Records' selection of products ranges from traditional albums and soundtracks to audiobooks and karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
albums. It releases music from movies under Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
and its film labels, Disney Channel Original Movies, and other feature-length productions. It also releases the Disneymania
DisneyMania (series)
Disneymania is an American series of compilation albums of classic Disney songs, covered by Disney Channel and mainstream artists singing their own rendition or version of the song. As of 2010, 9 Disneymania albums have been released....
and Radio Disney Jams
Radio Disney Jams series
The Radio Disney Jams series CDs are various artists compilations of music featured on Radio Disney, a children's radio network.In 1999, Radio Disney released their first CD, Radio Disney Kid Jams, containing the top songs from Radio Disney's playlist. Over time, Radio Disney released more volumes...
albums while still keeping to its family-oriented representation by endorsing read-along albums for pre-schoolers and classic Disney music.
Albums/artists
- Debby RyanDebby RyanDeborah "Debby" Ryan is an American actress and singer. Ryan is best known for starring as Bailey Pickett in the Disney Channel Original Series The Suite Life on Deck. The Suite Life on Deck became the most watched children's show on television...
- China Anne McClain
- Stefanie ScottStefanie ScottStefanie Scott is an American actress and singer. Scott is best known for her roles as Dana Tressler in the feature film Flipped in which she won a 2011 Young Artist Award and in No Strings Attached as Young Emma. In the television industry, Scott currently portrays Lexi Reed on Disney Channel's...
- Carlton Jeffery
- Brandon Mychal Smith
- The McClain Sisters
- Lemonade Mouth
- Bella ThorneBella ThorneAnnabella Avery "Bella" Thorne is an American teen actress, dancer, singer, and model. She is a child model and actor with appearances in more than 20 films and television series and more than 60 commercials, she is best known for her role as the aspiring young dancer, CeCe Jones on the Disney...
- Zendaya
- Adam HicksAdam HicksAdam Paul Neilson Hicks is an American actor. His first leading role was in How to Eat Fried Worms. He is most notable for playing Luther in the Disney XD series Zeke and Luther and starring in the Disney Channel Original Movie Lemonade Mouth as Wendell "Wen" Gifford...
- Anna MargaretAnna MargaretAnna Margaret Collins is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She is best known for her work on the soundtrack of the Disney Channel Original Movie, Starstruck.-Early life:...
- The MuppetsThe MuppetsThe Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson starting in 1954–55. Although the term is often used to refer to any puppet that resembles the distinctive style of The Muppet Show, the term is both an informal name and legal trademark owned by the Walt Disney Company in reference...
- Ralph's WorldRalph's WorldRalph's World is a children's music group created by Ralph Covert. Covert, previously of Chicago-based indie-rock group The Bad Examples, uses high rock and roll energy with kid-friendly lyrics....
- They Might Be GiantsThey Might Be GiantsThey Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
- Imagination MoversImagination MoversImagination Movers is a child-centered rock band formed in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2003. The lineup includes Rich Collins, Scott Durbin, Dave Poche, and Scott "Smitty" Smith. Members of the group were longtime friends and neighbors....
NOTE: Any Un-signed Artist who performs on a soundtrack released by Walt Disney Records(and works within Disney Enterprises inc.) is automatically signed to Walt Disney Records
Former artists
- Antonello VendittiAntonello VendittiAntonello Venditti is an Italian singer-songwriter who became famous in the 1970s for the social themes of his songs.-Biography:...
- Devo 2.0Devo 2.0Devo 2.0 was a quintet, created for Walt Disney Records , of child actors who sing, dance, and mime playing instruments along to songs re-recorded by some of the original members of Devo...
- Zé RamalhoZé RamalhoZé Ramalho is a Brazilian composer and performer. Zé Ramalho has collaborated with various major Brazilian musicians, including Vanusa, Geraldo Azevedo and Alceu Valença to name a few...
- Hilary DuffHilary DuffHilary Erhard Duff is an American actress, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and author. After working in local theater plays and television commercials in her childhood, she achieved fame playing the title role in the Disney Channel television series Lizzie McGuire. She also reprised her role in...
- Raven-SymoneRaven-SymonéRaven-Symoné Christina Pearman , known professionally as Raven-Symoné , or simply Raven, is an American actress, singer, songwriter, comedian, dancer, television producer and model. Symoné launched her successful career in 1989 after appearing in The Cosby Show as Olivia...
- The Cheetah Girls
- KSMKSM (band)KSM was an American all-girl teen rock band from Los Angeles, California that was active from 2006 to 2010. The band consisted of lead singer Shelby Cobra, lead guitarist Shae Padilla, rhythm guitarist Katie Cecil, drummer Kate Cabebe, and bassist Sophia Melon.They gained popularity in summer 2009...
- Johnny and the SpritesJohnny and the SpritesJohnny and the Sprites is a musical television show aimed for preschoolers that airs every weekend on the "Playhouse Disney" program of The Disney Channel. The show was created for, is produced by, and stars John Tartaglia . The show's theme song was written by Stephen Schwartz...
- The DoodlebopsThe DoodlebopsThe Doodlebops is a Canadian television children's television series. "Rock & Bop with The Doodlebops", , was released in 2004 and continues to top the children's charts in North America...
- Mitchel MussoMitchel MussoMitchel Tate Musso is an American actor, singer-songwriter and musician. Musso is best known for his three Disney Channel roles as Oliver Oken in the Disney Channel sitcom, Hannah Montana, Jeremy Johnson in the Disney Channel animated series Phineas and Ferb and his role as King Brady in the...
- Jonas BrothersJonas BrothersThe Jonas Brothers are an American boy band. The band gained its popularity from the Disney Channel children's television network. From the shore region of New Jersey, the band consists of three brothers: Paul Kevin Jonas II , Joseph Adam Jonas , and Nicholas Jerry Jonas...
- Hannah MontanaHannah MontanaHannah Montana is an American television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on the Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real...
Album series
- DisneymaniaDisneyMania (series)Disneymania is an American series of compilation albums of classic Disney songs, covered by Disney Channel and mainstream artists singing their own rendition or version of the song. As of 2010, 9 Disneymania albums have been released....
- Radio Disney JamsRadio Disney Jams seriesThe Radio Disney Jams series CDs are various artists compilations of music featured on Radio Disney, a children's radio network.In 1999, Radio Disney released their first CD, Radio Disney Kid Jams, containing the top songs from Radio Disney's playlist. Over time, Radio Disney released more volumes...
- Disney Karaoke Series