Bang Records was created by Bert Berns in 1965 together with his partners from Atlantic Records: Ahmet Ertegun, Neshui Ertegun and Jerry Wexler (Gerald). The first letters of their names formed the label's name: BANG. Bertrand Russell Berns (November 8, 1929 - December 30, 1967) (a/k/a Bert Russell and Bert Berns) was one of the great American songwriters and record producers of the 1960s. ... 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (link goes to calendar). ... Atlantic Records (Atlantic Recording Corporation) is a scary record label founded in 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. ... The Ertegun brothers, Ahmet Ertegun (1923) and Nesuhi Ertegun (1917–1989) are co-founders of Atlantic Records. ... Jerome Jerry Wexler (born 10 January 1917) is a music journalist turned highly influential music producer, and is regarded as one of the major record industry players behind 1960s soul music. ...

Berns had been staff producer at Atlantic Records for several years when the Atlantic chief executives and Berns set out to create a new independent label. Soon thereafter, Berns took sole control of the company. At Bang, Berns had an immediate string of hit records, including "I Want Candy" by The Strangeloves, "Hang On Sloopy" by The McCoys, "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison, and "Solitary Man" by Neil Diamond. The McCoys are pop group started in Union City, USA in 1962. ... Brown Eyed Girl is a hit song written and recorded in 1967 by singer and songwriter Van Morrison. ... Essential Neil Diamond album cover. ...

When Berns died suddenly on December 30, 1967 as a result of a rheumatic heart condition, his wife Ilene Berns took over management. Berns' young widow signed singer/songwriter Paul Davis, who had a number of hit records in the 1970s and 1980s, including songs such as "Ride 'Em Cowboy," "I Go Crazy," "Sweet Life," "Cool Night" and "65 Love Affair." Ilene Berns also signed and developed R&B acts Brick ("Dazz") and Peabo Bryson. In the early years, Bang did its own distribution. In 1978 Bang signed a distribution deal with CBS Records, until the company was purchased in the early eighties by Columbia Records. Over the years two subsidiary labels were started: Shout Records and Bullet Records. 1967 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Paul Davis was born in the United Kingdom in 1963, and grew up in the Midlands and London. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... Peabo Bryson (born April 13, 1951) is an African-American R&B and soul singer, born in Greenville, South Carolina. ... 1978 was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... Columbia Records is the oldest continually used brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888. ... Columbia Records is the oldest continually used brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888. ... Shout Records was a subsidiary of Bang Records, active between 1967 until 1972. ... There existed 2 Bullet Records. ...

Some of the well known Bang artists were Van Morrison and Neil Diamond. Van Morrison in concert, 1974 George Ivan Morrison (born August 31, 1945) is an Northern Irish singer/songwriter originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland. ... Essential Neil Diamond album cover. ...

See also

• List of record labels