About
Gallo Record Company is Africa's largest domestic record company. Also appears as a label since 1989. Do not confuse with previous labels Gallo / Gallo GRC & following label Gallo Music Productions. It is through purchase, merger or consolidation that it has also come to control the catalogues from several competitor and associate companies, including Gramophone Record Company, Trutone, Teal, RPM, WEA/Tusk, Troubadour, Meteor, Record Industries, USA, Joburg, MFP, and DJ. Consequently, the company now owns some 75% of recordings ever made in South Africa up through the 1980's. Gallo's history is long and complex, and it began in 1939 when Arnold Golembo founded the Gramophone Record Company (GRC) around a small music retail shop in downtown Johannesburg. GRC obtained the South African franchise for Capitol Records label in 1946 but relinquished it in favour of CBS Records in 1956. In 1985 GRC was incorporated into the Gallo Group, becoming Gallo-GRC under the leadership of Peter Gallo (the son of Eric Gallo who had launched the original Gallotone Recordings in 1926). In 1989 (Gallo-GRC's 50th anniversary year), the company's name was shortened to Gallo Record Company. However, a setback for the company occurred when South Africa's first democratically-elected government came into power and Sony decided to return to the country and claim back the distribution rights for its CBS and Epic brands in 1995. The following year Gallo merged with RPM Records (but retained their old name). Another year later, the company bought out another local music giant, Tusk Music, and with that obtained the rights to distribute the Warner Music International catalogue, as well as that of Tommy Boy Music, Strictly Rhythm, Hollywood Records, Naxos, and Elap Music. Gallo Record Company also represents a number of independent labels which are managed in its RPM Records division as well as a major roster of domestic artists through Gallo Music South Africa (GMSA), itself encompassing several subdivisions. Parent company Gallo (Africa) Ltd. is part of the Johnnic Communications media and entertainment group, with which Warner Music International began a joint venture in May 2006, creating Warner Music Gallo Africa and expanding the company's vast musical archive into the digital realm and a worldwide market.
Sub-labels
RPM Studios, Johannesburg, South Africa
One of the most well-known and advanced recording and mastering studios in South Africa, situated in Johannesburg and launched in 1979. In 1982 it joined the Gallo Group. The studio was esta...
Bula Music
Independent label, founded in 1998 by (of The Dynamics fame), and , concentrating on gospel and maska...
RPM Dance
RPM Dance was an imprint of the Gallo Record Company and South Africa's biggest dance label.
RPM Records (3)
Record company, usually appearing as For label use .
Gallo
South African label. Label Code: LC 3682 / LC 03682 . Gallo Record Company is the largest and oldest independent record label in South Africa and has been in operation since 1926. In 1985...
Sheer Group
The Sheer Group consisted of seven companies, each specialising in its own field; artist focused releases, compilation releases, dance music, online sales, live entertainment, publishing as well as...
Gallo Music International
South African label related to Gallo Record Company/Gallo Music Productions.
Continental Records (8)
Music label from Johannesburg, South Africa. Operated in the late 1960's. Also appears as "Continental" only.
Tusk Music Co. (Pty) Ltd.
The Tusk Music Co. (Pty) Ltd. was formed in 1986 after was forced to close shop following pressure from American political groups as a result of South Africa's apartheid policies a...
Mavuthela Music Company
Mavuthela Music Company (M.M.C. o MMC) African music subsidiary of Gallo active from the mid-1960s to the late 1980s.
Gallo Recording Studios
Recording and mastering studio in Johannesburg, South Africa. Engineers: , , Robin Ritchie. Also appears on releases as: - Gallo Studios - Gallo "B" Studio
New Sound (4)
South African label. Sometimes associated to the label Gallotone.
Meteor Record Co
The Record For The Modern African Meteor Record Co. Box 6640 , Johannesburg, South Africa
Great South African Performers
A series of compilations from Gallo Record Company celebrating important South African artists. The artwork describes these issues as an "Authentic South African Platinum Series".
Zimbabwe Gold
Zimbabwean label
Contact Label
Gallo House 6 Hood Ave. Rosebank, Gauteng PO Box 47150 Parklands 2121 South Africa Tel: +27 11 788-0519 Fax: +27 11 788-7080