Gallo Record Company

Gallo Record Company is a Johannesburg-based South African record company widely described as the country’s oldest independent label and one of its most important custodians of recorded African music. Its origins date to 1926, when Eric Gallo established the Brunswick Gramophone House as a retail and distribution business for Brunswick Records. Gallo soon identified a major gap in the South African market: the country had local performers and musical traditions but limited recording infrastructure. In 1932, he therefore established Gallo Recording Studios, using equipment and technical assistance obtained from the recently closed Metropole operation in the United Kingdom. The company adopted a red rooster emblem that remains associated with the Gallo identity. Gallo’s early growth made it a foundational institution in South African recording. Its catalogue came to include African popular music, jazz, gospel, mbaqanga, jive, choral music, and other regional styles, issued through labels such as Singer, Gallotone, Gallo New Sound, USA, Motella, Gumba Gumba, CTC Star Records, and FGB. One of the best-known early recordings connected with the company is “Mbube,” recorded in 1939 by Solomon Linda and the Original Evening Birds. The recording later became internationally influential through adaptations and cover versions, although the history of its rights and compensation has also been associated with broader debates about the treatment of African composers and performers. During the 1950s and 1960s, Gallo competed with the South African operations of major international companies, especially EMI. The company strengthened its African music activities in 1964 by recruiting talent scout and producer Rupert Bopape from EMI. Bopape created the Mavuthela Music Company division, which developed a prolific stable of mbaqanga and jive artists and was promoted as South Africa’s equivalent of Motown. The Mavuthela operation was supported by the Makgona Tsohle Band and became closely associated with performers including the Mahotella Queens, Mahlathini, Abafana Baseqhudeni, and many others. Gallo’s wider creative network also included producers, scouts, arrangers, and musicians such as Griffith Motsieloa, Reggie Msomi, Walter Nhlapo, West Nkosi, Shadrack Piliso, Marks Mankwane, Hilda Tloubatla, Lucky Monama, Joseph Shabalala, Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde, and Thandi Nkomo. A second major strand of the company’s history comes from the Gramophone Record Company, or G.R.C., founded in Johannesburg by Arnold Golembo in 1939. G.R.C. held South African franchise arrangements for Capitol Records from 1946 and CBS Records from 1956, later operating in relation to EMI-associated activities. Gallo Africa and G.R.C. were important rivals in South African music during the mid-twentieth century. In 1985, Gallo Africa acquired and incorporated G.R.C., creating Gallo-GRC and bringing together the Mavuthela and Isibaya Esikhulu production stables. The company adopted the name Gallo Record Company in 1990. Gallo’s catalogue expanded through recordings by artists such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Letta Mbulu, Lucky Dube, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Spokes Mashiyane, Mahlathini, the Mahotella Queens, the Green Arrows, Mpharanyana and the Cannibals, and Amaswazi Emvelo. In 2006, Johnnic Communications, then Gallo’s parent company and later renamed Avusa, formed a joint venture with Warner Music International’s South African division. Warner Music Gallo Africa made the company’s extensive archive digitally available for the first time, including rare pressings and historically significant recordings. That joint venture ended in December 2013. Gallo remains principally important as a South African record label, catalogue owner, archive, and reissue platform, with its significance extending beyond current releases to the preservation and commercial circulation of recordings documenting the country’s musical history.

Gallo Record Company began as a Johannesburg music-retailing and distribution business founded by Eric Gallo in 1926. Initially called the Brunswick Gramophone House, the operation distributed recordings from the United States. Gallo’s commercial experience exposed the scarcity of local recording facilities and the breadth of South African musical talent. In response, he established Gallo Recording Studios in 1932, borrowing equipment and technical expertise from the former Metropole company in the United Kingdom. The studio and label became the basis of Gallo Africa, South Africa’s first recording company, and used a red rooster as its visual emblem. The company developed a broad catalogue across South African musical traditions and issued recordings on numerous labels, including Singer, Gallotone, Gallo New Sound, and USA. Its early historical importance is illustrated by the 1939 recording of “Mbube” by Solomon Linda and the Original Evening Birds. Gallo also recruited local creative personnel to develop African music. Griffith Motsieloa worked as a talent scout, while later producers and scouts helped the company compete in a market increasingly shaped by international record companies. In the 1950s, Gallo faced competition from EMI’s South African business and its African music division. EMI’s success under talent scout Rupert Bopape contributed to Gallo’s decision to recruit him in 1964. At Gallo, Bopape established Mavuthela Music Company, a production division focused on mbaqanga and jive. Mavuthela became one of the defining centres of South African popular music and was marketed as “South Africa’s Motown.” Its recordings featured the Mahotella Queens, Mahlathini, Abafana Baseqhudeni, and many other artists. The Makgona Tsohle Band provided backing for numerous Mavuthela performers, with West Nkosi among the influential producers and musicians associated with the operation. Gallo’s principal corporate rival was the Gramophone Record Company, established in Johannesburg by Arnold Golembo in 1939. G.R.C. secured the South African franchise for Capitol Records in 1946 and CBS Records in 1956. The two companies maintained competing production stables, with Gallo’s Mavuthela set against G.R.C.’s Isibaya Esikhulu. Their rivalry lasted from approximately the mid-1960s until Gallo Africa acquired G.R.C. in 1985. The combined business was initially called Gallo-GRC and included both production operations. In 1990, it was renamed Gallo Record Company. The label’s catalogue grew through the work of producers, musicians, arrangers, and scouts including Reggie Msomi, Walter Nhlapo, Louis Abel Petersen, Shadrack Piliso, Marks Mankwane, Hilda Tloubatla, Lucky Monama, Joseph Shabalala, Simon Mahlathini Nkabinde, and Thandi Nkomo. West Nkosi remained a prominent figure at Gallo from 1964 until his death in 1997 and helped introduce artists including Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the Green Arrows, Mpharanyana and the Cannibals, and Amaswazi Emvelo. In 2006, Johnnic Communications, Gallo’s parent at the time, entered a joint venture with Warner Music International’s South African division. The resulting Warner Music Gallo Africa venture digitised and distributed the company’s extensive archive, making rare pressings and classic recordings more accessible. The catalogue included work associated with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Letta Mbulu, Spokes Mashiyane, Lucky Dube, and Yvonne Chaka Chaka. The joint venture ended in December 2013. Gallo is now owned by Arena Holdings and continues to represent one of South Africa’s most important independent recording catalogues.

• 2013

  Warner Music Gallo Africa joint venture ends

  [1]Gallo Record Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The partnership concludes in December, ending the documented Warner/Gallo joint-venture period.

• 2006

  Warner Music Gallo Africa is formed

  [1]Gallo Record Companyen.wikipedia.org

  A joint venture between Johnnic Communications and Warner Music International’s South African operation begins digitising and distributing Gallo’s archive.

• 1990

  The company becomes Gallo Record Company

  [1]Gallo Record Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The post-acquisition business adopts the name by which it is principally known today.

• 1985

  Gallo Africa acquires G.R.C.

  [1]Gallo Record Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The rival companies are combined as Gallo-GRC, incorporating the Mavuthela and Isibaya Esikhulu production stables.

• 1964

  Rupert Bopape joins Gallo and establishes Mavuthela

  [1]Gallo Record Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Gallo recruits Bopape from EMI and develops Mavuthela Music Company as a major production centre for mbaqanga and jive.

• 1939

  Solomon Linda records “Mbube”

  [1]Gallo Record Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Solomon Linda and the Original Evening Birds make the recording that became one of the most historically influential South African songs.

• 1939

  Gramophone Record Company is founded

  [1]Gallo Record Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Arnold Golembo establishes G.R.C. in Johannesburg, creating the company that would later be acquired and incorporated into Gallo Africa.

• 1932

  Gallo Recording Studios opens

  [1]Gallo Record Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Gallo establishes recording facilities in South Africa using equipment and technical assistance obtained from the former Metropole company in the United Kingdom.

• 1926

  Eric Gallo establishes the Brunswick Gramophone House

  [1]Gallo Record Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Eric Gallo begins the business that would develop into Gallo Africa and ultimately Gallo Record Company, initially distributing Brunswick Records in South Africa.

South Africa’s historic independent recording institution, combining an active record-company identity with a large archival catalogue of African popular music and related rights.

• Recorded music archive · 1932

  Gallo African music catalogue

  The company’s central offering is its extensive catalogue of South African and African recordings. It spans early studio material, African popular music, jazz, mbaqanga, jive, choral music, and recordings by major artists. The catalogue has been used for physical releases, licensing, reissues, and digital distribution, giving Gallo an archival role in addition to its conventional record-label activities.

• Production division and label · 1964

  Mavuthela Music Company

  Established within Gallo Africa after Rupert Bopape joined the company in 1964, Mavuthela became a major production home for mbaqanga and jive. Its recordings were associated with artists including the Mahotella Queens, Mahlathini, Abafana Baseqhudeni, and other performers backed by the Makgona Tsohle Band. The division’s output is a core component of Gallo’s historical African popular-music archive.

• Record label

  Gallotone

  Gallotone was one of the labels used by Gallo for releases within its broader South African catalogue. The imprint is also associated with Gallo’s mid-century instrument and music business, including the production of Gallotone guitars.

• Recording studio · 1932

  Gallo Recording Studios

  Opened in 1932, Gallo Recording Studios supplied the infrastructure that allowed the company to record local performers in South Africa. The studio became a foundation for the label’s long-running catalogue and its role in documenting African music.

• 2006

  Digitise and broaden access to the historical archiveStrategy

  Background

  Gallo held a large collection of rare and historically important recordings, many of which had not previously been broadly available in digital form.

  Action taken

  Johnnic Communications and Warner Music International’s South African division formed Warner Music Gallo Africa to make the archive digitally available.

  Aftermath

  The venture expanded access to classic and rare recordings before ending in December 2013.

  Source

• 1985

  Acquire and integrate Gramophone Record CompanyM&A

  Background

  Gallo Africa and G.R.C. had been important rivals in South African recorded music since the mid-twentieth century.

  Action taken

  Gallo Africa acquired G.R.C. and combined its Isibaya Esikhulu production stable with Gallo’s Mavuthela operation under the Gallo-GRC name.

  Aftermath

  The integrated company was renamed Gallo Record Company in 1990, consolidating two major strands of South African recording history.

  Source

• 1964

  Build a dedicated African popular-music production divisionStrategy

  Background

  Gallo was competing with EMI’s successful African music operation and sought to strengthen its own talent-development and production capabilities.

  Action taken

  The company recruited Rupert Bopape and established Mavuthela Music Company, focusing on mbaqanga, jive, and related South African styles.

  Aftermath

  Mavuthela became one of the most productive and influential parts of Gallo’s catalogue, associated with the Mahotella Queens, Mahlathini, the Makgona Tsohle Band, and many other artists.

  Source

1. 1Gallo Record Companyen.wikipedia.org