Vinyl records, what many music enthusiasts and purists alike insist is the preferred listening vehicle, are experiencing a huge resurgence and records are essential items at bands’ merchandising tables. Publications from the New York Times to the Wall Street Journal to Fortune Magazine to the Huffington Post to the UK Guardian and many others have highlighted this phenomenon. Sales of vinyl records will reach a billion dollars in 2017 and turntable sales are keeping pace with the vinyl boom.
Enter SunPress Vinyl, South Florida’s answer to the vinyl revolution. When the principals of the company were looking to purchase pressing equipment they were drawn to a facility in South Florida that had what they wanted. But when they actually came over to acquire the equipment and ship it to Brooklyn, they found something much more. They found history.
“What we found were machines that delivered the immortal sounds of Bob Marley, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, and Toots and the Maytals,” said Dan Yashiv, SunPress’ principal. “And they were housed in the legendary facility that produced records for the world renowned reggae label Studio One. We knew this is where we wanted to begin our operations.”
SunPress Vinyl is housed in the former Final Vinyl factory, founded in the 1970s by reggae pioneer Joe Gibbs. As the U.S. base of Gibbs’ operations, and later, Studio One's Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd's main pressing facility, the plant issued classic works by reggae’s greatest artists.
SunPress Vinyl was founded by recording engineer Dan Yashiv who recorded many top artists including the Pet Shop Boys, Britney Spears and De La Soul, and film producer Stephen Hays who’s 120dB Films produced hundreds of films. Together with Dan Pelson, former Executive Vice President of Sony Music, the group understands the continuing legacy in which their business will be operating. Also on board as an advisor is Benji Rogers, who’s direct-to-fan music platform PledgeMusic pre-sells vinyl records for hundreds of artists from The Flaming Lips to Wyclef Jean.
The entire infrastructure and each of the six pressing machines located here has been given a first class rebuild. There are five fully automatic presses and one semi-automatic press capable of pressing multi-colored and picture discs. Current turnaround time for orders is running at only 6 weeks.
Head engineer Chris Moss, a long-time vinyl pressing veteran, ensures that the machinery is performing at top form under the most demanding quality control. The venerable Headley Haslam, who pressed almost every record during the Joe Gibbs and Studio One years, is now back at the pressing post he first filled in the 1970s.
Staying true to the location’s reggae roots, SunPress Vinyl has just entered into a partnership with Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Inernational. Tuff Gong will press its own catalog and third party releases at SunPress Vinyl in Miami.
“We are thrilled by Tuff Gong’s endorsement and look forward to starting our relationship by pressing Bob Marley and Stephen Marley releases,” says Stephen Hays, Sunpress’ principal. Reggae’s influence on contemporary music is indisputable, with vinyl records playing a key part of the process. SunPress Vinyl is proud to continue this rich tradition honoring the history of its location.
While SunPress Vinyl is working with well-established labels, the company is committed to delivering top quality vinyl records in a timely manner, to independent and emerging artists and labels, locally and worldwide. Recent order of high-quality 180g records was delivered to local DJ/producer Richie Hell, who sold out in less than three weeks and has placed a re-order.
“Bring us an audio recording and your artwork and we’ll give you a vinyl record . . . a true piece of art!” says Yashiv. “SunPress Vinyl is committed to extending the long vinyl legacy in Miami, and restoring a vibrant hub for the production of beautiful, analogue music.”
SunPress Vinyl operates at the Studio One’s former Final Vinyl location, 14097 NW 19th Ave, Miami/Opa-locka, FL. Orders and inquiries can be made by phone 786-577-0983 or online at www.sunpressvinyl.com
