# Light Records

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Light_Records
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Light_Records.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_Records
> Source revision: 1319929037
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

American gospel record label

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Light Records" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Record label

Light Records Parent company MNRK Music Group Founded 1966 (1966) Founder Ralph Carmichael Genre Gospel Country of origin U.S.

**Light Records** is a [gospel](/source/Gospel_music) [record label](/source/Record_label) founded in 1966 by [Ralph Carmichael](/source/Ralph_Carmichael), as a joint venture with the [Waco](/source/Waco%2C_Texas), Texas-based [Word Records](/source/Word_Records). It is a subsidiary of the [MNRK Music Group](/source/MNRK_Music_Group).

## History

Light Records' first roster included Ralph Carmichael, the Carmichael Young People, Ralph Carmichael's 102 Strings recordings, and Ralph's daughter [Kim (Carol) Carmichael](/source/Carol_Parks). Other artists included [Jimmy Durante](/source/Jimmy_Durante) and [Thurl Ravenscroft](/source/Thurl_Ravenscroft) (the voice of [Tony the Tiger](/source/Tony_the_Tiger) in cereal commercials). Light moved into Gospel music quickly, with the 1968 signing of future [Grammy Award](/source/Grammy_Award)-winners [Andrae Crouch & the Disciples](/source/Andrae_Crouch) and *The Oral Roberts Singers*, featuring [Richard Roberts (evangelist)](/source/Richard_Roberts_(evangelist)) who had a hit with their opening theme *Something Good Is Going to Happen to You* and closing theme *A God of Miracles* for *The Oral Roberts Hour*.

Soon other gospel artists, including [Kristle Murden](/source/Kristle_Murden), [The Archers](/source/The_Archers_(musical_group)), [The Winans](/source/The_Winans), [Walter Hawkins](/source/Walter_Hawkins), [Tramaine Hawkins](/source/Tramaine_Hawkins) and Bob Bailey joined the roster.[1] For a time, Light was also home to contemporary Christian artists such as [Sweet Comfort Band](/source/Sweet_Comfort_Band), [Reba Rambo-McGuire](/source/Reba_Rambo-McGuire), [Jamie Owens](/source/Jamie_Owens-Collins), [Carman](/source/Carman_(singer)) and [Paul Porter](/source/Paul_Porter_(musician)).

The label gained a reputation for pushing the boundaries of gospel music at this time by employing people like famed A&R executive Bill Maxwell with a pedigree in secular rock. He and several other associates were in support of the sound of gospel progressing beyond that presented by the traditional church as long as the lyrics remained Christian.[2] Carmichael bought out Word's portion of Light/Lexicon in 1980, after [ABC/CapCities](/source/American_Broadcasting_Company) had purchased Word in 1974. The Christian indie label struck a deal with [Elektra Records](/source/Elektra_Records) to aid in distribution circa 1982.[3]

Light was later purchased by [Platinum Entertainment](/source/Platinum_Entertainment) in 1993. After Platinum filed bankruptcy in 2001, it was renamed [Compendia Music Group](/source/Compendia_Music_Group), and the Light label continued as an urban-gospel label. Compendia was purchased by Sheridan Square Entertainment in 2004.[4]

In a 2002 interview, Phillip White, then-vice president of Light Records highlighted the history and significance of the label: "Light Records was simply a renaissance of creativity. It heralded a step taken in gospel that has never happened since, in terms of innovation, in terms of music that became more relevant and more accessible. Light Records released music that crossed outside the church and crossed racial boundaries."[1]

As of April 2010, Light Records was owned by Entertainment One.[5] Executive James Robinson ushered in a new era of gospel artists at Light Records circa 2010.[6] After developing artists such as Youthful Praise featuring J.J. Hairston, Robinson was instrumental in supporting significant new releases from [Shirley Caesar](/source/Shirley_Caesar), [Dorinda Clark Cole](/source/Dorinda_Clark_Cole), [Jonathan McReynolds](/source/Jonathan_McReynolds), [Dawkins & Dawkins](/source/Dawkins_%26_Dawkins), as well as Destiny's Child member [Michelle Williams](/source/Michelle_Williams_(singer)).[7]

## See also

- [List of record labels](/source/List_of_record_labels)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gflight_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gflight_1-1) ["Back On: Light Records; Interview with Light VP, Phillip White"](http://www.gospelflava.com/articles/lightrecords.html). 2002. Retrieved 2024-06-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Chris Christian Sees Lyrics As The Fundamental Difference"](https://books.google.com/books?id=5CMEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22light+records%22+gospel&pg=PT85). Billboard. 1980-10-25. Retrieved 2024-06-27.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Ed Harrison (1982-10-02). ["Shedding Light Along The Way"](https://books.google.com/books?id=giQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT38). Billboard. Retrieved 2024-06-27.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Light Records"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130414181216/http://www.mymusicway.com/labels/light.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.mymusicway.com/labels/light.html) on 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2006-12-18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["E1 Acquires IndieBlu"](http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i5a1636af3715b03b2c9b7accdbc8ad69). Retrieved 2010-08-06.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["James D. Robinson Named Executive Director/GM at Malaco Records"](https://www.malaco.com/james-d-robinson-named-executive-directorgm-at-malaco-records/). Malaco Music Group. 2017-11-16. Retrieved 2024-06-27.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["The Bounce Back: James Robinson Made Executive Director/GM at Malaco Records"](http://rootmagazineonline.com/featured-content/the-bounce-back-james-robinson-made-executive-directorgm-at-malaco-records/). The Root. 2017-11-16. Retrieved 2024-06-27.

v t e Blackstone Founders Peter G. Peterson Stephen A. Schwarzman Notable executives Current Joseph Baratta David Blitzer Jonathan D. Gray Former Roger Altman Larry Fink Hamilton E. James David Stockman John J. Studzinski Laurence Tosi Subsidiaries Current BREIT Former Blackrock GSO Capital Partners PJT Partners Investment holdings Business services CMS Computers RGIS SunGard (minority shareholder) Consumer/retail The Michaels Companies (Joint control) Pinnacle Foods United Biscuits IT services Mphasis (56.12%) Financial services BankUnited (minority stake) Corebridge Financial (minority stake) HealthMarkets (minority stake) FGIC (minority stake) Refinitiv (minority stake) Healthcare Biomet Emcure Pharmaceuticals (investment) Vanguard Health Systems Industrial Freescale (Joint Control) Klöckner Pentaplast TRW Automotive (Control) Essel Propack Media/telecom MNRK Music Group Dualtone Records Last Gang Records Light Records SESAC eAccess (investment) Nielsen Holdings (minority stake) Axtel (minority stake) Deutsche Telekom (minority stake) TDC Group (minority stake) The Weather Channel (minority stake) International Data Group Travel & leisure AGS Airports (22%) Bourne Leisure Casual Dining Group Center Parcs Europe (freehold) Center Parcs UK and Ireland Caesars Entertainment Corporation (former) Crown Resorts Great Wolf Resorts Hilton Worldwide (former) Merlin Entertainments (minority stake) SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment (former) Travelport Village Hotel Club Real estate Extended Stay America (minority stake) EQ Office La Quinta Inns & Suites Top Ryde City

Authority control databases International VIAF National United States Other MusicBrainz label Te Papa (New Zealand)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Light Records](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_Records) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_Records?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.