Bang Records

Bang Records was created by Bert Berns in 1965 together with his partners from Atlantic Records: Ahmet Ertegün, Nesuhi Ertegün and Jerry Wexler (Gerald). The first letters of their names formed the label's name: BANG. 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" and Kentucky Woman by Neil Diamond. When Berns died suddenly on December 30, 1967 as a result of a rheumatic heart condition,...