Collection Guide
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A&M Records records
PASC-M.0269
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Table of contents
Description
The collection consists of correspondence, production records, business records, photographs, music, artwork, posters, clippings,
awards, ephemera, artifacts, sound recordings, and video recordings from just prior to the founding of A & M Records in 1962
to a few years after its sale to Polygram in 1989, while Jerry Moss and Herb Alpert were still affiliated with the label.
Background
Founded in 1962 in Los Angeles, California by Jerry Moss and Herb Alpert, A&M Records became America's largest independent
record company. Both men were born in 1935, Alpert in Los Angeles and Moss in New York. The two met in the early 1960s, when
Alpert was writing and recording songs and Moss was an independent record promoter. Their social acquaintance quickly became
a partnership when in 1962 the two formed Carnival Records, based in Alpert's garage. With contributions of $100 from each
man, the company released the single "Tell It to the Birds." After discovering later that year that the Carnival name was
already in use, Alpert and Moss created the company's new name from the initials of their last names.
Extent
100 Linear Feet
(197 boxes)
Restrictions
Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Availability
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.