Few modern record labels are revered as much as Daptone. An indie outfit based in Brooklyn, it purports to bring music enthusiasts the “tastiest, most delectable nuggets of funk, soul, gospel and Afrobeat to be found on a vinyl platter.”
Musician-owned and run, the New York-based family of soul-drenched talent channels the spirits of bygone powerhouses like Stax and Motown into gilded moments of movement and joy.
The stellar roster includes the likes of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Charles Bradley & Menahan Street Band, The Budos Band, The Sugarman 3 and Antibalas. As Daptone says, “this is music to be savored and felt, again and again.”
Founded in 2001 by Gabriel Roth and Neal Sugarman, the label’s records are lovingly recorded and mixed by the illustrious Bosco Mann to ensure only the hardest, truest sound. With over 50 albums and over 100 singles released, it is now firmly established within the DNA of great music and will continue to be for a long time to come.
Neal Sugarman is a virtuoso musician in his own right, having played on records with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson and Al Green. He is the saxophonist in the Dap-kings and his own outfit, The Sugarman 3.
On behalf of Daptone, Neal has selected a playlist of his top picks on Qwest TV, featuring musicians that operate in his own universe, like Charles Bradley, the Menahan Street Band and Al Green, as well as legends like Nina Simone, Ray Charles and fascinating docs on Blue Note, punk and the blues to name just a few.
Rowan Standish Hayes
