Putumayo's Dan Storper, a sonic boomer
Professor David Demko, PhD
AgeVenture News Service
"In college, Dan Storper (photo) was a Latin American studies major. One day in 1974, he found himself sitting by a river in the Putumayo River Valley in southern Columbia, surrounded by local Indians in carnival dress, feeling that all was right with the world. He knew then that his company should be named for just such a magical place." (Billboard, 1998). Putumayo World Music was established in 1993 to introduce people to music and cultures from around the world. The label grew out of the Putumayo clothing company that was founded by Storper in 1975 and sold in 1977. In 1998, Billboard Magazine named Putumayo the industry's #1 Independent World Music Label.
Putumayo World Music is now considered a leader and pioneer in the non-traditional retail area. Their target audience consists of 44 million upscale, educated adults interested in international cultures and travel ... but do not always frequent record stores. As a result, Putumayo has built a network of 2,000 book, gift, clothing, and coffee shops that sell, play, and display its CDs.
This music is so fantastic, it comes with a written guarantee "to make you feel good".
As a member of Business For Social Responsibility, Putumayo is committed to supporting non-profit organizations which do good work in the communities where the music originates. For example, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their new "CUBA" CD goes to Global Exchange, an organization that promotes cultural and intellectual exchange between the United States and Cuba.
Putumayo World Music is located on the Internet at: www.putumayo.com
Graphic Credit: Putumayo World Music, San Francisco, California.
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David Demko reports on lifestyle issues and trends in Aging America.
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