Putumayo World Music
Putumayo World Music was established in 1993 to introduce people to the music of other cultures. The label grew out of the Putumayo clothing company that was founded by Dan Storper in 1975 and sold in 1997. In the past seven years, the label has become known primarily for its upbeat and melodic compilations of great international music that are "guaranteed to make you feel good!"
Putumayo's CD covers feature the distinctive naïve art of Nicola Heindl, whose colorful, folkloric style represents one of Putumayo's goals: to connect the traditional to the contemporary to create products that people love. By combining appealing music and visuals while supporting its releases with creative retail promotions and marketing, Putumayo World Music has developed a reputation as one of the industry's most innovative companies. The label has produced more than 60 CDs and in 1998 branched out by signing its first artist: Ricardo Lemvo. Putumayo received its first Grammy nomination in 2001 for Miriam Makeba's Homeland CD. Other Putumayo Artists include Habib Koité; and Oliver Mtukudzi.
Putumayo is considered a pioneer and leader in the non-traditional retail area. Putumayo has built a network of more than 2,500 book, gift, clothing, and coffee retailers that sell, play and display its CDs. Putumayo also retains a strong presence in record stores around the world. It has developed retail promotions including Travel the World with Putumayo trips to Martinique, Senegal and Ireland, in-store events, and consumer gift with purchase promotions utilizing calendars, beach balls, journals and notecards featuring Putumayo cover art.
In 2000, Putumayo launched the Putumayo World Music Hour, the first commercially syndicated world music program available on more than 120 commercial and non-commercial stations in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.
Dan Storper's vision of establishing a global, lifestyle company is being furthered by CD distribution in more than 50 countries. In April 2000, Putumayo Europe was established in Hilversum, Holland just outside of Amsterdam. Latin American, African and Asian sales and marketing are managed from the New York office.
A member of Business For Social Responsibility, Social Venture Network and Business Leaders For Sensible Priorities, Putumayo contributes a portion of its proceeds from many CDs to support non-profit organizations that do good work in the communities where the music originates. In 2002, Putumayo started the Putumayo Cross-Cultural Initiative, a non-profit organization that promotes cross-cultural understanding and facilitates community building through education and outreach.
Text from the Putumayo web site
CD: Putumayo Presents Global Soul
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Released 1/03 on Putumayo World Music. Inspired by the sound and spirit of contemporary R&B and the neo-soul movement, artists from around the world are bringing their own flavors to the urban music mix. Global Soul is perhaps Putumayo's most universal and cutting edge album to date and features leading soul, hip hop and R&B artists from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Artists like Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, India Arie, Alicia Keys and others have earned a worldwide following, and it was only a matter of time before musicians around the world began incorporating contemporary R&B influences.
Global Soul features artists from a wide range of countries, including Melgroove, Doc Gyneco and China from France, South Korean singer Tasha, Fernanda Abreu and Aricia Mess from Brazil, Senegalese band Saf Sap, Italian group Traccia Mista, German neo-soul diva Joy Denalane, French-Canadian singer Melanie Renaud, cross-cultural fusionists 1 Giant Leap (with special guests Speech, Neneh Cherry and Native American vocal group Ulalli), TID from Tanzania, and Cameroonian discovery Kaïssa.
CD: Putumayo Presents Euro Lounge
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Released 3/03 on Putumayo World Music. Home to some of the world's most revered DJs and a thriving electronica scene, Europe is the source for the lastest trends in chill-out and down tempo music. We've traveled to France, Italy, Spain and beyond to seek out some of today's most progressive sounds. Euro Lounge is the perfect album for parties, clubs, cafes, or just enjoying while chilling out at home. The follow up to the commercially successful and critically lauded World Lounge collection, Euro Lounge captures the irreverent and avant-garde spirit of modern Europe.
Other Info:
For further information on Putumayo releases see their official web site.
