Concord Records is an American independent record label that currently serves as a flagship imprint of the Concord music company. Established in 1973 by Carl Jefferson, a jazz enthusiast and businessman in Concord, California, the label was originally named Concord Jazz. It was created to document performances from the Concord Jazz Festival, which Jefferson had founded in 1969.
In its early years, the label focused primarily on mainstream jazz recordings, featuring artists such as Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, Stan Getz, and Rosemary Clooney. Following Jefferson's death in 1995, the label was sold to an investment group led by Hal Gaba and television producer Norman Lear. This transition marked an era of expansion for the company, during which it diversified its catalog beyond jazz into pop, rock, and adult contemporary genres.
A significant milestone in the label’s history occurred in 2004 with the merger between Concord Records and Fantasy Records, resulting in the formation of the Concord Music Group. This merger brought together a vast catalog of jazz, soul, and blues recordings. In the same year, Concord Records gained international prominence through its collaboration with Starbucks' Hear Music label for the release of Ray Charles's final studio album, Genius Loves Company, which won eight Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Concord continued to acquire several notable independent labels, including Rounder Records, Telarc International, and Vanguard Records. These acquisitions positioned the parent company as one of the largest independent music companies in the world.
As an imprint, Concord Records continues to manage a diverse roster of contemporary artists. The label remains recognized for its production quality and its historical association with the preservation and promotion of American jazz and popular music. High-profile artists who have recorded for the label or its subsidiaries include Chick Corea, Sergio Mendes, James Taylor, and Esperanza Spalding.
