Evangeline Records

Evangeline Records is an independent American record label founded in 2006 by songwriters Bob Frank and John Murry. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the label developed around the two founders' own music before expanding into a broader roster of artists working across indie rock, baroque pop, psychedelic folk, Americana, and related roots-oriented styles. Its catalog is characterized by folk and Americana influences, a dark or cinematic atmosphere, and a collaborative recording approach rather than the highly segmented structure associated with major-label operations. The label emerged after Frank and Murry, both of whom were raised in the American South, relocated to the Bay Area. Their initial partnership centered on their own songwriting and recording. Their album World Without End received critical attention internationally and obtained a European release through Decor Records, but the pair did not find a suitable American record deal. They consequently used Evangeline Records as a vehicle for issuing the album in the United States. The label's first release, World Without End, appeared in July 2007, several months after its European debut. The name Evangeline refers to Murry's daughter, born in 2004. It also evokes the literary and cultural history associated with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem about Acadian and Cajun displacement. After the first release, the label added artists including Jeffrey Luck Lucas, Kira Lynn Cain, Christine Shields, Danny Pearson, Birdgang, Ryan Auffenberg, and Chuck Prophet. Zach Roberts, who performs as Birdgang, was identified as an exception to the label's primarily Bay Area-centered roster. Evangeline's operating model was closely tied to the local recording community. Its offices were associated with 1441 Howard Street in San Francisco, the location of Closer Recording studios. The studio was owned by producer and engineer Tim Mooney, formerly a drummer with American Music Club, the Toiling Midgets, and the Sleepers. Many label recordings were made there, and recurring collaborations among musicians, engineers, and producers gave the catalog a collective character. Contributors mentioned in connection with multiple recordings include Sean Coleman, Tim Mooney, John Murry, Nate Cavalieri, and Quinn Miller. Coleman engineered two recordings and produced and engineered Kira Lynn Cain's The Ideal Hunter, released in May 2008. The founders described the label as a collective inspired by the communal and artist-centered spirit associated with Stax, Motown, Muscle Shoals, and Sun Records. This reference point distinguished Evangeline from a purely distribution-focused imprint: the label sought to foster a shared musical environment in which performers and studio personnel could recur across projects. In 2011, the label was purchased by Lori Graves Murry and reopened under the name Evangeline Recording Company. The reorganized operation remained based in the Bay Area, with Oakland identified as its operating location. Most of the earlier artists reportedly remained connected to the roster, and releases under the new name were planned for January 2012. The earlier catalog continued to be available through the label's own online presence. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about later releases, current ownership structure, and present-day activity.

Evangeline Records was established in 2006 by American songwriters Bob Frank and John Murry after both had moved from the American South to the San Francisco Bay Area. The label initially functioned as an outlet for the founders' own work. Their collaboration produced World Without End, an album that attracted international critical attention and received a European release through Decor Records. Because the musicians were unable to obtain a suitable United States record deal, they used their own label to issue the album domestically. World Without End became Evangeline Records' first release in July 2007. The label's name was taken from Evangeline, the name of Murry's daughter, who was born in 2004. The name also alludes to the Acadian and Cajun cultural history popularized by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem. Following the debut release, the label expanded beyond the founders and added a group of artists connected with the Bay Area independent-music community. Listed or associated artists included Jeffrey Luck Lucas, Kira Lynn Cain, Christine Shields, Danny Pearson, Birdgang, Ryan Auffenberg, and Chuck Prophet. Birdgang was the performing name of Zach Roberts and represented an exception to the label's primarily local roster. Evangeline's catalog occupied a space between alternative rock and American roots music. The label promoted indie rock, baroque pop, psychedelic folk, and Americana, with many recordings incorporating folk traditions and a somber, cinematic sensibility. Its structure was described as a collective modeled in part on the collaborative spirit of Stax, Motown, Muscle Shoals, and Sun Records. Rather than treating each release as an isolated project, the label connected artists through shared musicians, producers, engineers, and facilities. A central location in this network was Closer Recording studios at 1441 Howard Street in San Francisco. The facility was owned by Tim Mooney, a producer and engineer who had previously played drums in American Music Club, the Toiling Midgets, and the Sleepers. A substantial portion of the label's recordings were made there. Musicians and production personnel who appeared repeatedly across the recordings included Sean Coleman, Tim Mooney, John Murry, Nate Cavalieri, and Quinn Miller. Sean Coleman engineered two recordings and produced and engineered Kira Lynn Cain's The Ideal Hunter, released in May 2008. In 2011, Lori Graves Murry purchased Evangeline Records. The business reopened as Evangeline Recording Company and continued as an independent Bay Area label, with Oakland identified as its base after the relaunch. Most of the earlier artists were reported to remain on the roster, while the first releases under the new name were scheduled for January 2012. The back catalog remained available through the label's own online channel. The available reference material does not establish a complete later release history, a current executive roster beyond the ownership information associated with the relaunch, or whether the label continues to release music under the original or successor name.

• 2012

  Planned first releases under the successor name

  [1]Evangeline Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The reorganized label announced or scheduled its first releases under the Evangeline Recording Company name for January 2012.

• 2011

  Ownership change and relaunch

  [1]Evangeline Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Lori Graves Murry purchased the label and reopened it as Evangeline Recording Company, with operations continuing in the Bay Area.

• 2008

  The Ideal Hunter released

  [1]Evangeline Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Kira Lynn Cain's The Ideal Hunter appeared in May 2008, with Sean Coleman handling production and engineering.

• 2007

  World Without End becomes the first label release

  [1]Evangeline Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label issued World Without End in the United States in July 2007 after the album's earlier European release through Decor Records.

• 2006

  Label founded

  [1]Evangeline Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Bob Frank and John Murry founded Evangeline Records in the San Francisco Bay Area as an outlet for their songwriting and recording work.

A collaborative, artist-oriented independent label focused on roots-informed alternative music, especially indie rock, baroque pop, psychedelic folk, and Americana.

• Album · 2007

  World Without End

  The collaborative album by Bob Frank and John Murry that provided the foundation for Evangeline Records. It received international critical recognition, appeared in Europe through Decor Records before its American release, and became the label's first domestic release in July 2007.

• Album · 2008

  The Ideal Hunter

  A Kira Lynn Cain release issued by Evangeline Records in May 2008. Sean Coleman produced and engineered the recording, reflecting the label's practice of using a recurring Bay Area network of musicians and studio professionals.

• 2011

  Purchase and relaunch as Evangeline Recording CompanyM&A

  Background

  The independent label underwent an ownership transition after several years of operation and roster expansion.

  Action taken

  Lori Graves Murry purchased the label and reopened it under the Evangeline Recording Company name, with the operation continuing in the Bay Area.

  Aftermath

  Most previous artists reportedly remained associated with the reorganized label, and releases under the new name were planned for January 2012.

  Source

• 2006

  Founders create an independent outlet for their own musicStrategy

  Background

  Bob Frank and John Murry had international interest in World Without End but did not secure a suitable record deal in the United States.

  Action taken

  They established Evangeline Records and used it to release the album domestically, later extending the label to other artists.

  Aftermath

  The label developed from a vehicle for the founders into a broader independent roster and recording collective.

  Source

1. 1Evangeline Recordsen.wikipedia.org