Casablanca Records

In 1999, PolyGram (including its subsidiaries) was purchased by [[Seagram]] and then merged with Seagram's [[MCA Records|MCA Music Entertainment Group]] to form the [[Universal Music Group]]. In 2000, the Casablanca Records name was revived for a joint venture between Universal Music Group and [[Tommy Mottola]]. In a ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' article, Mottola said that he chose the name as a homage to the original label but that there was no connection between the old and new labels. Casablanca is currently a dance and electronic label under [[Republic Records]] headed by GM, Brett Alperowitz, who on April 13, 2021, was also named EVP of A&R by Republic Records' president of West Coast creative, Wendy Goldstein.{{Cite web|last=Aswad|first=Jem|date=2021-04-13|title=Republic Records Names Brett Alperowitz Executive VP of A&R|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/republic-records-brett-alperowitz-vp-1234950218/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

In 1999, PolyGram (including its subsidiaries) was purchased by [[Seagram]] and then merged with Seagram's [[MCA Records|MCA Music Entertainment Group]] to form the [[Universal Music Group]]. In 2000, the Casablanca Records name was revived for a joint venture between Universal Music Group and [[Tommy Mottola]]. In a ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' article, Mottola said that he chose the name as a homage to the original label but that there was no connection between the old and new labels. Casablanca is currently a dance and electronic label under [[Republic Records]] headed by GM, Brett Alperowitz, who on April 13, 2021, was also named EVP of A&R by Republic Records' president of West Coast creative, Wendy Goldstein.{{Cite web|last=Aswad|first=Jem|date=2021-04-13|title=Republic Records Names Brett Alperowitz Executive VP of A&R|url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/republic-records-brett-alperowitz-vp-1234950218/|access-date=2021-04-14|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

== Post-Bogart years ==

Casablanca was not as successful without Bogart running the company. Its only notable releases from 1980 onward were the [[Robin Williams]] debut comedy LP ''Reality, What A Concept!'' (1981), the soundtrack to the movie ''[[Flashdance (soundtrack)|Flashdance]]'' (1983), and the final three Kiss LP's on Casablanca: ''[[Unmasked (Kiss album)|Unmasked]]'', ''[[Music from "The Elder"]]'', and ''[[Creatures of the Night]]''. [[Dusty Springfield]]'s sole release on Casablanca, 1982's ''[[White Heat (Dusty Springfield album)|White Heat]]'', came and went with little notice due to the label's mounting internal problems. The most successful act on the label during the 1980s was R&B singer [[Stephanie Mills]], who came to the label after PolyGram bought the [[20th Century Fox Records]] label and absorbed its artists and back catalog into Casablanca. The last album released by the label was [[Animotion]]'s ''[[Strange Behavior (album)|Strange Behavior]]'' in 1986, which was a modest seller. By that time, PolyGram had folded Casablanca Records, moving some of its acts to [[Mercury Records]] and dropping others.

== Other events ==

Casablanca started a subsidiary label in 1975 called [[Chocolate City Records]]. It was mainly overseen by Bogart's partner Cecil Holmes. The label focused on R&B, funk, and disco releases. Chocolate City's signings included the then-new act [[Cameo (band)|Cameo]] and veteran act [[Brenda & the Tabulations]].

From 1976 to 1979, Casablanca also had another subsidiary label called Parachute Records. The label was run by former [[Motown Records]] promoter and [[Uni Records]] CEO [[Russ Regan]].{{cite web |url=http://45-sleeves.com/USA/parachute/para-us.htm |title=Parachute Records USA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315022119/http://45-sleeves.com/USA/parachute/para-us.htm |archive-date=March 15, 2015 }}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ewwI7AUeb2oC |first1=Larry|last1=Harris|first2=Curt|last2=Gooch|first3=Jeff|last3=Suhs |title=And Party Every Day: The Inside Story of Casablanca Records |publisher=[[Backbeat Books]] |date=2009 |isbn=978-0-87930-982-4}} Artists signed to the label included singer [[Randy Brown (musician)|Randy Brown]], the heavily sampled disco group 7th Wonder, and songwriter-author-poet [[Shel Silverstein]], who recorded one album for the label—1978's ''Songs and Stories''.{{cite web |url=http://www.bsnpubs.com/casablanca/parachute.html |first1=Patrice|last1=Eyries|first2=Mike|last2=Callahan|first3=David|last3=Edwards |title=Parachute Album Discography |date=January 20, 2006}}

The offices of Casablanca moved into the former [[A&M Records]] offices on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Casablanca's new offices were soon remodeled after the movie set of the film of the same name. Later, the record company merged with an indie production company called Filmworks, Inc., which was founded by former [[Columbia Pictures]] executive [[Peter Guber]]. The new company became known as '''Casablanca Record and Filmworks''', with Bogart still at its helm as president, while Guber became chairman of the board and head of its film division. Guber would remain with the company for two years. In 1977, PolyGram acquired a 50% stake in the independent Casablanca, which had been quite successful for several years.

Casablanca remained very successful throughout the rest of the 1970s. But the label's rise and fall would both be dramatic instances. The rise came with the success of several acts such as Donna Summer, Kiss, Parliament, and [[Village People]], as well as some success from its subsidiary label and its film division. The fall began when the 1980s rolled in. The label was known to spend lavish amounts of money on parties, events, and promotion. Although this resulted in hit albums and singles, the profit margin suffered due to the carefree spending by the label. Casablanca spent lavish amounts of money on promoting its releases, which made its artists happy, but not necessarily PolyGram, which now owned a 50% stake in the label. When Casablanca's lavish spending habits were realized by PolyGram, it quickly made an offer to purchase the other 50% of Casablanca in 1980. Bogart accepted; however, he soon found out he would not be allowed to stay with Casablanca, and PolyGram released him from his post. He used the money he acquired from the sale to start [[Boardwalk Records]] and he signed then-new rocker [[Joan Jett]], who had experienced some success in Japan as a member of the group [[The Runaways]]. Bogart died from [[cancer]] in 1982 and Boardwalk Records folded.

== Notable artists ==

== Notable artists ==

=== SG Lewis ===

=== SG Lewis ===

[[SG Lewis]] is a British producer, songwriter, and DJ that makes dance-oriented, electronic-based music. Initially known for his remixes of artists like [[Jessie Ware]], he released his debut EP, ''Shivers'', in 2015. Collaborations with vocalists such as [[Gallant (singer)]], [[Ray BLK]], and [[Bishop Nehru]] followed, and Lewis released ''Dusk'', the first EP in a three-part series dedicated to club culture, in 2018.

[[SG Lewis]] is a British producer, songwriter, and DJ that makes dance-oriented, electronic-based music. Initially known for his remixes of artists like [[Jessie Ware]], he released his debut EP, ''Shivers'', in 2015. Collaborations with vocalists such as [[Gallant (singer)]], [[Ray BLK]], and [[Bishop Nehru]] followed, and Lewis released ''Dusk'', the first EP in a three-part series dedicated to club culture, in 2018.

== Other events ==

Casablanca started a subsidiary label in 1975 called [[Chocolate City Records]]. It was mainly overseen by Bogart's partner Cecil Holmes. The label focused on R&B, funk, and disco releases. Chocolate City's signings included the then-new act [[Cameo (band)|Cameo]] and veteran act [[Brenda & the Tabulations]].

From 1976 to 1979, Casablanca also had another subsidiary label called Parachute Records. The label was run by former [[Motown Records]] promoter and [[Uni Records]] CEO [[Russ Regan]].{{cite web |url=http://45-sleeves.com/USA/parachute/para-us.htm |title=Parachute Records USA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315022119/http://45-sleeves.com/USA/parachute/para-us.htm |archive-date=March 15, 2015 }}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ewwI7AUeb2oC |first1=Larry|last1=Harris|first2=Curt|last2=Gooch|first3=Jeff|last3=Suhs |title=And Party Every Day: The Inside Story of Casablanca Records |publisher=[[Backbeat Books]] |date=2009 |isbn=978-0-87930-982-4}} Artists signed to the label included singer [[Randy Brown (musician)|Randy Brown]], the heavily sampled disco group 7th Wonder, and songwriter-author-poet [[Shel Silverstein]], who recorded one album for the label—1978's ''Songs and Stories''.{{cite web |url=http://www.bsnpubs.com/casablanca/parachute.html |first1=Patrice|last1=Eyries|first2=Mike|last2=Callahan|first3=David|last3=Edwards |title=Parachute Album Discography |date=January 20, 2006}}

The offices of Casablanca moved into the former [[A&M Records]] offices on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Casablanca's new offices were soon remodeled after the movie set of the film of the same name. Later, the record company merged with an indie production company called Filmworks, Inc., which was founded by former [[Columbia Pictures]] executive [[Peter Guber]]. The new company became known as '''Casablanca Record and Filmworks''', with Bogart still at its helm as president, while Guber became chairman of the board and head of its film division. Guber would remain with the company for two years. In 1977, PolyGram acquired a 50% stake in the independent Casablanca, which had been quite successful for several years.

Casablanca remained very successful throughout the rest of the 1970s. But the label's rise and fall would both be dramatic instances. The rise came with the success of several acts such as Donna Summer, Kiss, Parliament, and [[Village People]], as well as some success from its subsidiary label and its film division. The fall began when the 1980s rolled in. The label was known to spend lavish amounts of money on parties, events, and promotion. Although this resulted in hit albums and singles, the profit margin suffered due to the carefree spending by the label. Casablanca spent lavish amounts of money on promoting its releases, which made its artists happy, but not necessarily PolyGram, which now owned a 50% stake in the label. When Casablanca's lavish spending habits were realized by PolyGram, it quickly made an offer to purchase the other 50% of Casablanca in 1980. Bogart accepted; however, he soon found out he would not be allowed to stay with Casablanca, and PolyGram released him from his post. He used the money he acquired from the sale to start [[Boardwalk Records]] and he signed then-new rocker [[Joan Jett]], who had experienced some success in Japan as a member of the group [[The Runaways]]. Bogart died from [[cancer]] in 1982 and Boardwalk Records folded.

== Post-Bogart years ==

Casablanca was not as successful without Bogart running the company. Its only notable releases from 1980 onward were the [[Robin Williams]] debut comedy LP ''Reality, What A Concept!'' (1981), the soundtrack to the movie ''[[Flashdance (soundtrack)|Flashdance]]'' (1983), and the final three Kiss LP's on Casablanca: ''[[Unmasked (Kiss album)|Unmasked]]'', ''[[Music from "The Elder"]]'', and ''[[Creatures of the Night]]''. [[Dusty Springfield]]'s sole release on Casablanca, 1982's ''[[White Heat (Dusty Springfield album)|White Heat]]'', came and went with little notice due to the label's mounting internal problems. The most successful act on the label during the 1980s was R&B singer [[Stephanie Mills]], who came to the label after PolyGram bought the [[20th Century Fox Records]] label and absorbed its artists and back catalog into Casablanca. The last album released by the label was [[Animotion]]'s ''[[Strange Behavior (album)|Strange Behavior]]'' in 1986, which was a modest seller. By that time, PolyGram had folded Casablanca Records, moving some of its acts to [[Mercury Records]] and dropping others.

== Official book ==

== Official book ==