Viva (3)

Hollywood, California, record label founded by Snuff Garrett's Snuff Garrett Productions, launched in June 1966. Initially funded and distributed by Dot Records. Garrett was president, Leon Russell, A&R and product, and Ed Silvers, sales and promotion. Garrett sold his companies to Omega Equities for between $2.25 and $3 million in December 1968, including Viva and Bravo (15) Records. Both Viva and Bravo switched to Decca Distributing Corp. in 1969. Silvers was EVP and Mel Bly was VP. Garrett resigned in September 1970, and Silvers became president. Silvers reacquired the companies in late 1970, and then sold them to Warner Bros. in January 1971; Silvers became president of Warner Bros. Music, which oversaw the Viva and Bravo labels. Bly became EVP of Warner Bros. Music in February 1971. Starting in July 1971, the Viva, Bravo and Pentagram labels were distributed Warner Bros. Records. And eventually the label went defunct circa 1973. Garrett reacquired the rights to the label and relaunched it with Clint Eastwood (2) in October 1980 as a soundtrack and country label. President was Don Blocker. Distribution was still via Warner Bros. Records Inc., until its closure in the mid-1980s. For the associated companies, see Viva Records, Inc., and Viva Records (12). For releases purporting to be on this label, see Viva (17).