Record Label
Sutra Records was a 1980s New York hip-hop/dance/electro label created by [[artist:Art Kass]] who, with manager [[artist:Charles Stettler]], helped launch the label's most successful rap trio the [[artist:Fat Boys]]. The owner of the label was the company [[label:Sutra Records, Inc.]]. Kass was originally an MGM accountant, turning his head for figures into one filled with music when he partnered the three founders of [[label:Kama Sutra]] in the summer of 1965. In 1967 the label became distributed by the very label the foursome had spawned, [[label:Buddah Records]], when Kass brought in producer [[artist:Neil Bogart]] to its operations. Bogart's 'Bubblegum Pop' style and approach to production had a strong influence on Kass. CD production began in mid-1987. In 1982 Kass launched the Sutra label under Buddah distribution, creating a number of further labels, such as [[label:Bluedog Records]], [[label:Fever Records]] and [[label:Baila Records]] and signing acts such as the [[artist:The Cover Girls]] and Stettler's artists the Fat Boys- working with Stettler on their first release as executive producer. Buddah ceased trading in 1986, passing into the hands of BMG and its current back catalog distributors [[label:Legacy]]. Sutra, at 1790 Broadway, N.Y, New York 10019, became insolvent in 1993 and some of its back catalog is currently managed by [[label:Unidisc]].