Also appears as "Tico" only.
Label run the company Tico Recording Company.
American label specialized in Latin music, responsible for introducing artists such as Ray Barretto and Tito Puente. Founded 1948 in New York City by George Goldner.
In late 1955 Goldner sold half of his interest in Tico Records (along with his labels Rama and Gee) to the partnership of Joe Kolsky and Morris Levy. In January 1957 they formed Roulette Records with Levy as president but, by April, Goldner sold out his interest in the four labels.
Tico Records was sold to Fania Records in 1974 and made its last release in 1981.
Tico Records back catalog was managed by Roulette from January 1957 and by Fania from 1974.
OjO: If anyone is selling an old TICO High Fidelity record that they say was released BEFORE 1956, and has the address shown on the back covers as: 659 Tenth Ave, New York, 36, New York, IT WAS NOT released BEFORE 1956. 659 Tenth Avenue didn't become available until 1956 when the owner of the building sold it to Morris Levy and it became the HQ of Rama, Gee, End, and TICO, among other subsidiaries Goldner once owned before selling it to Levy and Roulette.
FYI: 659 10th Avenue was TICO's first official headquarters. But prior to that, George Goldner was working as an executive in an office of a button factory which was located at 220 West 42nd Street, New York, New York, and in this office of the button factory is where his TICO label actually started, and all of his original TICO 1st records released BEFORE 1956 will have that 220 West 42nd Street, New York, New York address shown on the back covers. During the time that George was still an executive in that button factory, he was simultaneously promoting dances at The Renaissance ballroom, Golden Gate ballroom, etc. 659 10th Ave was a building owned by Henry Pullan. He was a pawnbroker who owned a pawnshop on the ground floor of the building. TICO Records was founded by George Goldner and his brother Sam Goldner in 1948. 659 Tenth Ave was still owned by Henry Fullan in 1948. So, technically, it's not the first office. In '53, George establishes Rama Records. In 1955 George sells TICO and all his subsidiaries (Rama, Gee, etc.) to Roulette Records. In 1956, Henry Fullan sells the building at 659 Tenth Avenue to Morris Levy. In 1956, 659 Tenth Avenue becomes the headquarters of Tico, Rama, etc. The TICO banner on the label is consistent with TICO's 1st label variation, but with the addition of the TICO High Fidelity branding on the labels, along with the address of 659 Tenth Ave, New York 36, N.Y., IT IS NOT a 1954 release. For more info: https://mobile.nytimes.com/1956/11/30/archives/pullan-property-on-10th-ave-sold-building-that-long-housed-noted.html
MamboMadness
January 30, 2018FYI: 659 10th Avenue was TICO's first official headquarters. But prior to that, George Goldner was working as an executive in an office of a button factory which was located at 220 West 42nd Street, New York, New York, and in this office of the button factory is where his TICO label actually started, and all of his original TICO 1st records released BEFORE 1956 will have that 220 West 42nd Street, New York, New York address shown on the back covers. During the time that George was still an executive in that button factory, he was simultaneously promoting dances at The Renaissance ballroom, Golden Gate ballroom, etc. 659 10th Ave was a building owned by Henry Pullan. He was a pawnbroker who owned a pawnshop on the ground floor of the building. TICO Records was founded by George Goldner and his brother Sam Goldner in 1948. 659 Tenth Ave was still owned by Henry Fullan in 1948. So, technically, it's not the first office. In '53, George establishes Rama Records. In 1955 George sells TICO and all his subsidiaries (Rama, Gee, etc.) to Roulette Records. In 1956, Henry Fullan sells the building at 659 Tenth Avenue to Morris Levy. In 1956, 659 Tenth Avenue becomes the headquarters of Tico, Rama, etc. The TICO banner on the label is consistent with TICO's 1st label variation, but with the addition of the TICO High Fidelity branding on the labels, along with the address of 659 Tenth Ave, New York 36, N.Y., IT IS NOT a 1954 release.
For more info: https://mobile.nytimes.com/1956/11/30/archives/pullan-property-on-10th-ave-sold-building-that-long-housed-noted.html