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music
MALACO RECORDS | THE LAST SOUL COMPANY

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malaco records-flaunt ![malaco records-flaunt](https://assets-global.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472d26354b38efed0ff8d30_malaco%2Brecords-flaunt.jpeg) To dive into the history of gospel music is to dive into a rich, bottomless, soulful goldmine for sampling. In 1962, the leading label for gospel music, Malaco Records, was founded in Jackson, Mississippi. Since then, Malaco Records has become one of the oldest, independently run record labels in America. This label continues to be a trailblazer for African American music and was termed “the last soul company” by Peter Guralnick, well-known music critic and screenwriter. After graduating, Tommy Couch and brother-in-law Mitchell Malouf started what is now Malaco Records, later adding Wolf Stephenson to the team. Revenue from initial record releases was nominal, so the label took on smaller gigs like creating jingles and renting out studio spaces. Wardell Quezergue made Malaco an offer that they could not resist, sending them artists in return for studio space and backing musicians. This trade resulted in the label releasing “Groove Me” by King Floyd, spiking sales through the roof. After Atlantic picked the track up for distribution, Malaco Records’ musicians became hot commodities. The label continued taking risks, seeing heightened payoff. Malaco Records has also produced names like Fred McDowell, Bobby “Blue” Band, Z.Z. Hill, Johnnie Taylor, Little Milton, and James Cleveland. Today, the label’s roster of music can be seen sampled in some of the hip-hop industry’s biggest tracks. For those who may not know what music sampling is, it is when an artist reuses a sample of an already existing song in their own recording. Songs that sample from Malaco Records’ catalogue include “Selah” by Kanye West, “Right Hand 2 God” by Nipsey Hussle, and “Purple Haze” by The Diplomats. Left to right, top to bottom: Tommy Couch, Jerry Wexler, Mitchell Malouf, Jo Jo Benson ,and Peggy Scott. ![Left to right, top to bottom: Tommy Couch, Jerry Wexler, Mitchell Malouf, Jo Jo Benson ,and Peggy Scott.](https://assets-global.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472d26454b38efed0ff8d42_Flaunt-Malaco-6.jpeg) Left to right, top to bottom: Tommy Couch, Jerry Wexler, Mitchell Malouf, Jo Jo Benson ,and Peggy Scott. After reaching its 50th anniversary, Malaco Records’ story is broadcasted in a retrospective book entitled _The Last Soul Company: The Malaco Records Story._ It includes some of Malaco Records’ most influential artists exploring their careers and outputs. It also gives readers a look into the history of Malaco Records’ struggles and comebacks, documenting the very roots the label was founded on. The book documents the sampling history of Malaco Records, going in-depth to describe how the label became one of America’s sampling leaders. It includes never-before seen images that help explain the history of Malaco Records and aid in submerging readers into the experience of those working on the label. Grammy Award-winning author and screenwriter Rob Bowman previously wrote _Soulsville, U.S.A – The Story of Stax Records_ (2003). As he did in _Soulsville, U.S.A – The Story of Stax Records_, Bowman gives readers the opportunity to insert themselves in Malaco Records’ history. [_The Last Soul Company: The Malaco Records Story_](https://www.malaco.com/) is available on March 23rd. Checkout just a few highlights from the sampling timeline below: Frederick Knight, Bobby Blue Bland, and George Jackson. ![Frederick Knight, Bobby Blue Bland, and George Jackson.](https://assets-global.website-files.com/62ee0bbe0c783a903ecc0ddb/6472d26454b38efed0ff8d3e_Flaunt-Malaco-1.jpeg) Frederick Knight, Bobby Blue Bland, and George Jackson.  **“Magic Stick” - Lil Kim (feat. 50 Cent) (2003) samples “It Be’s That Way Sometime” - Joe Simon** **“Get Down Brothers vs. Notorious 3” - The Get Down Brothers (2016) samples “Get Up And Dance” - Freedom** **“Right Hand 2 God” - Nipsey Hussle (2018) samples “Getting Over You” The Controllers** **“God Is” - Kanye West (2019) samples "God Is" - James Cleveland & The Southern California Community Choir**