Detroit was a hopping place to be a recording artist during the '60s. Of course there was Motown -which still gets all of the attention- but other labels turned out various records across a wide range of genres. Among those labels was Strata, an imprint specializing in jazz that only turned out 10 albums during its short existence. Despite its relatively low output and lack of "big-name" performers, Strata's collection is praised by jazz fans. Now the master copies of those albums are in danger of being lost.
Barbara Cox, the wife of Strata founder Kenny Cox, gave exclusive rights to 180 Proof Records to rerelease the entire catalogue. She still owns the original masters for the albums, and has fallen on hard times-She's 75 years old and lives on Social Security-which puts them at risk of being confiscated by people who don't realize the tapes' value.
The good news: Supporters started a campaign at crowdfunding site Indiegogo.com in order to raise the funds necessary to pay back Cox's real estate taxes and thereby save the Strata catalogue as well. The goal is $6,700 and supporters have already contributed nearly $5,000 as of Thursday.
Strata began as a recording space, owned by Cox and Charles Moore, which provided room for performers such as Charles Mingus and Herbie Hancock. John Lennon took interest and donated a portable recording studio and Hammond B3 organ to the cause, allowing the pair to record the 10 albums. Strata's discography is below.
- The Contemporary Jazz Quintet - Location
- Bert Myrick- Live'n Well
- Sphere - Inside Ourselves
- Maulawi - Maulawi
- Lyman Woodard Organization, The - Saturday Night Special
- Kenny Cox - Clap Clap (The Joyful Noise)
- The Contemporary Jazz Quintet - The Black Hole
- Ron English- Fish Feet
- Larry Nozero Featuring Dennis Tini - Time
