Tabu Records
Tabu Productions was an American record label founded by Clarence Avant in 1975. The label, Tabu Records, focused on R&B and funk.
Founding
Avant founded the label after Sussex Records went out of business in June 1975. Tabu Record's flagship release, “Stormin'” by Brainstorm, was released in 1977. Tabu Records had a short-lived distribution pact with RCA, which lasted a year before moving to CBS Records.
The label focused on R&B and funk but expanded into other genres such as disco. Its artists included Lalo Schifrin ("No One Home", 1979) and the SOS Band ("Take Your Time (Do it Right)," 1980).
Dina Andrews
The label languished in 1982, and Avant nearly lost his home in 1983 before discovering Dina R. Andrews, a young music executive who had worked for Dick Griffey's Solar Records. Andrews, who had just begun managing the duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (of the Time), met with Avant and, through her relationship with him, introduced Jam & Lewis, who produced their first recordings for Avant. Jam & Lewis went on to produce several other recordings for Avant under Dina Andrews Management.
