Fervor Records is an American independent record label based in Phoenix, Arizona. The company was founded in 1989 and is now owned and operated by David Hilker and Jeff Freundlich. The label creates compilations of previously released and unreleased music, reissues original albums and singles, and releases music from heritage and contemporary artists across numerous genres. The catalog includes many Billboard charting songs as well as major label, Hall of Fame, and Grammy Award-winning artists. Fervor licenses music to television shows, films, advertising, and other media applications. The label releases limited physical product on CD, cassette, vinyl, and has products available on digital platforms worldwide.
History
Formation
Fervor Records was founded in 1989 in Phoenix, Arizona by entrepreneurs David Hilker, Ted Bulger, Ron Pick and Michael Charlesworth as a subsidiary to Wild Whirled Music Group which also included Mount Pilot Music Publishing Company, BMI. The company was first headquartered in an office/warehouse space on Gelding Drive in the Scottsdale Airpark in Scottsdale, Arizona.
First release
From their offices in Scottsdale, the fledgling company produced the first charity Christmas compilation in Arizona, which sold over 4,000 copies in six weeks. The disc, Southwest Holiday benefited Central Arizona Shelter Services, a homeless shelter in Phoenix. "Our goal," said Hilker, "was to unite the music community and do something positive."
Move to Sunnyslope
In 1991, Hilker and his songwriting/production partner, John Costello, opened a recording studio, Wild Whirled Recording, at 600 West Dunlap Avenue in the Sunnyslope neighborhood of Phoenix. It was in a strip mall next to a laundromat. This address also served as Fervor's new headquarters. The studio serviced many client recording sessions. Hilker and Costello also produced a variety of singers and rappers focused primarily on hip-hop and R&B.
Other early releases
Fervor achieved local success with three additional compilation releases: Arizona Unplugged, Blue Saguaro, and Musicians for St. Mary's (a second charity release, this one for St. Mary's Food Bank in Phoenix). Artists appearing on these albums include Jeff Dayton, The Phoenix Boys Choir, Hans Olson, Brian Page & The Next, Cliff Sarde, genepool, Sonya Jason, J. David Sloan and Billy Williams, Bob Corritore, Chico Chism, Big Pete Pearson, The Rocket 88's, Sam Taylor, Scotty Spenner, Chief Gillame, Rena Haus, Buddy Reed and the Rip It Ups, The Hoodoo Kings, London Thompson, Pete Pancrazi and Diana Lee.
Current studios and offices
By the mid 1990s, Bulger, Pick and Charlesworth had left the company, leaving Hilker in charge. In 2001, Fervor Records moved its headquarters and recording studios to its current location in Sunnyslope, Arizona.
Creation of Whirled Music Publishing, Inc. In 2002, Hilker and Costello teamed with New York City native, Jeff Freundlich, and formed Whirled Music Publishing, Inc. to expand further into music publishing and licensing. By 2006, Whirled Music Publishing, Inc. had acquired Fervor Records and affiliated brands. In 2016, John Costello left the company. Hilker serves as the company's CEO and Freundlich as COO.
Fervor catalog
Vintage music
In 2007, the label began acquiring the rights to vintage songs and recordings from the 1920s through the 2000s, spanning numerous styles and sub-genres of pop, country, soul, blues, Americana, gospel, electronic, jazz, hip hop, rock and R&B.
Fervor Records controls rights to music from historical labels including Morrison Records (Seattle, Washington) MCI, Liberty Bell, REV, Ramco, ARA, Raina, and Mascot Records (Phoenix, Arizona) Royal Audio Music aka RAM Records, K, and Clif Records (Shreveport, Louisiana) Comstock Records (Shawnee, Kansas), Trend Records (Canada) Up With People Records (Tucson, Arizona), Trend Records (Hollywood, California), Trod Nossel Studios (Wallingford, Connecticut), WSJ Records (New York), and Triplett Records (Chicago, Illinois).
Billboard charting songs
Songs in the Fervor catalog that have charted on Billboard include "Cookin" by the Al Casey Combo, "Reconsider Me" by Margaret Lewis and Mira Ann Smith, and "A Teenager Feels it Too" by Denny Reed
Grammy Award winners
Several of the artists in the Fervor catalog have received Grammy awards including Bill Champlin, Waylon JenningsSteve Vaus (aka Buck Howdy), Donna Fargo, and Jack Miller.