Candix Enterprises (stylized as CANDIX Enterprises) was an independent American record label known primarily for releasing the Beach Boys' first single, "Surfin'.
History
The label was established on August 26, 1960 by brothers Richard and Bob Dix. Candix was named for the label's president Bob Silva, whose stepfather's name was Canaday, and the Dix brothers. Joe Saraceno was the label's A&R director. Notable artists included Lou Rawls and the Frogmen, whose 1961 single "Underwater" reached number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Prior to releasing their first single "Surfin" on the label, the Beach Boys were briefly known as the Surfers, which was the name included on the acetate that found its way to Candix. Record promoter Russ Regan, whose employer handled distribution of the single, has been credited as giving the Beach Boys their name. "Surfin" became a local hit, but Bob Dix was unable to pay the original pressing plant and established X Records, a subsidiary of Candix, in December 1961 as a way to get more copies of the record pressed. In January 1962, Saraceno, then no longer employed with the label, contacted Herb Newman of Era Records, who distributed the third pressing of the single under the Candix name. "Surfin" reached number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1962. The Beach Boys only received $990 in royalties from the single.
The Candix record label was frequently plagued with financial issues. Silva was accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the company, and was dismissed as president in July 1961. Richard and Bob's brother Sherman failed to put his real estate profits back into the company and "spent the money on a lavish personal lifestyle". The record label closed around August–September 1962, just a few months after The Beach Boys signed with Capitol Records.
Discography No. Artist Titles Rel. 301 Ethan Du Veaux Undertow/Magnifique 9/60 302 Johnny MacRae Betcha Johnny Knows/The Lonely Years 9/60 303 Russ Regan and The Rowdies The Waterboy/Night Search 10/60 304 Lanny Duncan Romeo's Teacher/Why Did We Say Goodbye 10/60 305 Lou Rawls In My Little Black Book/Just Thought You'd Like To Know ?/60 306 The Sensationals Once In A While/Snow White Winter 11/60 307 The Hi-Tones I've Never Seen A Straight Banana/The Special Day ?/60 308 Solid Jackson East LA/Speedy Gonzalez ?/60 309 Don and Marty Mandolin Rock/Fidel And Raul ?/60 310 Faye Reis Don'tcha Break My Heart/How Much Longer 12/60 311 Theola Kilgore The Sound Of My Man/Later I'll Cry 12/60 312 Lou Rawls 80 Ways/When We Get Old 1/61 313 Sue Black It Doesn't Matter Anymore/Take Me 1/61 314 The Frogmen Underwater/The Mad Rush [#44] 3/61 315 Eddy Drake Passing Time Between Heartaches/Learning To Live Alone ?/61 316 Lanny Duncan Tummy Tickles/Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me ?/61 316 Lanny Duncan Tummy Tickles/Why Did We Say Goodbye ?/61 317 Faye Reis My Lover Boy/Your Fool 6/61 318 Eddie Lemaire You And I Against The World/I Want You ?/61 319 The Sensationals The City Sleeps/It Wouldn't Be The Same (Without You) ?/61 320 Cole Younger School Of Love/Broken Hearted Song ?/61 321 Ralph I've Got It/Rugged Ralph The Rapid Rabbit ?/61 322 Marc Cavell Hide And Seek/That's All I Want ?/61 323 Bobby Williams Wonder If My Baby's Coming Home/Can't Let You See Me ?/61 324 Jim Mitchum Lonely Birthday/Oh, What A Wonderful Feeling ?/61 325 The Kelly Four Annie Had A Party/Sweet Angelina ?/61 325 Big Daddy Deerfield and The Kelly Four Annie Had A Party/Sweet Angelina ?/61 326 The Frogmen Beware Below/Tioga ?/61 327 Sonny Wilson I Ain't Givin' Up Nothin'/Troubled Time ?/61 328 Lanny Duncan Don't Be Afraid To Cry/Thank You For Your Love ?/61 329 Marc Cavell and The Classmates I Didn't Lie/I See It ?/61 330 Bill Lyons That's All Right/Little Fool ?/61 331 The Beach Boys Surfin'/Luau* [#75] 11/61 332 Faye Reis Red Haired Sally/Perfect Love 1/62 333 Gene Anderson You Got Something/Old Folks Party ?/62 334 Bobby Lloyd Left All Alone/Our Love ?/62 335 The Moongooners Moon Goon Stomp/The Long Trip 5/62 336 Skip Sodor Band Begin The Beguine/Work Out 5/62 337 (not allocated) ?/62 338 Andy Belvin Walking The Blues/Prettiest Girl ?/62 339 David Box If You Can't Say Something Nice/I've Had My Moments 8/62 340 Curtis Byrd Pretty Woman/Turn Some More Lights On ?/62 341 Dean Beard The Day That I Lost You/Villa Acuna ?/62* "Surfin'" was also released in December 1962 as X Records single 301 and in January 1962 as Candix single 301.
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