Soma Records (U.S. label)
| Company type | Independent record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Founder | Amos Heilicher, Danny Heilicher |
| Defunct | 1967 |
| Fate | Merged with Pickwick Records (distribution company) |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis , United States |
| Products | Records (polka, country, jazz, rock) |
| Owner | Amos Heilicher |
Soma Records was a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based American record label owned by Amos Heilicher, a wholesale distributor of records. The label's name, Soma, is derived from spelling "Amos" in reverse. Amos and his brother Danny were also involved in jukebox operations and wholesale record distribution, in addition to owning the Musicland chain of retail music stores.
History
Established in 1954, Soma initially focused on recording genres such as polka, traditional country and western, and jazz. The label's first notable success came with Bobby Vee's 1959 track "Suzie Baby," which gained regional popularity before being picked up by Liberty Records for nationwide distribution.
Among Soma’s significant hits were "Mule Skinner Blues" by The Fendermen, "Liar, Liar" performed by The Castaways, "Run, Run, Run" by The Gestures, and "Surfin' Bird" by The Trashmen. Although "Surfin' Bird" was distributed through Soma, it was recorded under the Garrett Records label. George Garrett, an engineer at Kay Bank Studios, played a key role in many recordings for Soma. Amos Heilicher held a stake in Kay Bank Studios, where the majority of Soma’s sessions were produced. Throughout the 1960s, Soma recorded several regional rock groups including The Accents, Gregory Dee and The Avanties, The Underbeats, and The Del Counts. The label also served as a distributor for smaller imprints such as Garrett, Bangar, Golden Ring, and Studio City. Notably, country artist Dave Dudley released his debut album featuring the hit "Six Days on the Road" on Golden Ring Records in 1963; this album was distributed by Soma until the rights were acquired by Mercury Records.
Soma Records continued its releases until 1967 when its associated distribution company merged with Pickwick Records. The Heilicher brothers eventually withdrew from the recorded music industry in 1977.
Amos Heilicher passed away from pneumonia in August 2011 at the age of 90.
