Calla Records

Calla Records was a small, New York City-based independent black owned Soul record label run by Nate McCalla (1930-1980)[1] and active from approximately 1965 to 1977.

McCalla was an associate and bodyguard for Morris Levy who headed Roulette Records which had known ties to the mob.

Artists recording for the label include J.J. Jackson, Jimmie Raye, The Sandpebbles, Little Jerry Williams (aka Swamp Dogg), Jean Wells, The Emotions, The Fuzz, Lonnie Youngblood, The Persuaders, and Geraldine Hunt among others.[2] Initially distributed by Cameo-Parkway Records, the label became part of Roulette Records. The label was subsequently distributed by Shakat Records, a United States disco label[3] and Epic Records.

In 1968, the Calla Records catalogue was acquired by Warner Bros. Records.[4] The label nonetheless continued, developing new artists, such as The Fuzz, into the early 1970s, and then releasing a number of disco-oriented albums in 1975 and 1976.[5]

Calla Records ceased operations in 1977. McCalla was found murdered, execution style, in 1980, allegedly on the orders of Morris Levy.[1]