Record news: Death of a label founder
RIPWe have been notified of the death of Graham Pauncefort, founder of the excellent CRD Records, which has flourished since 1965 and is now run by his son Tom, and daughter, Emma. Graham, who died in Cornwall, was 81.
Mostly focussed on baroque and early classical music, CRD artists include Trevor Pinnock, Hamish Milne, the Nash Ensemble, Suk Quartet and Paul Crossley.
photo: Keble College Choir, Oxford
CRD did phenomenal work. Hamish Milne’s recordings of Medtner were well-recorded and unsurpassable accounts of the master’s music. Similar things may be said about Paul Crossley’s Fauré recordings. They will be remembered.
… and the impressively spacious and luxurious double-fold packaging of CRD’s LPs will likewise be remembered, with plenty of room for program notes and other music and recording information, with high gloss covers for the cover art. Not to mention the edge of the record jacket was wide enough that you could actually find it on your shelves. The Alberni Quartet’s LP of Schumann string quartets has a stunning cover (and good sound, quiet surfaces, and fine program notes).
Graham employed me as a sales representative for CRD in 1977. In addition to being a wonderful label, CRD was a trail-blazing independent importer and distributor giving labels like BIS, Harmonia Mundi, Rounder and countless others their first introduction to the UK market. He was a real pioneer and is sorely missed.
Remember that very well, John! Graham was a lovely bloke, loved his music, his beer and his cricket
The first cd of chamber music I ever bought was the Alberti’s playing Brahms’ Op.18 sextet. Wonderful recording.
CRD was a real pioneer in the early days of cd.