Kama Records (3)

1960s-1970s label from Utica, New York. ** Also shown on the label as: "Kama". Originally located at 9 Meadow Street, New York Mills, where it also had a pressing plant listed as Kama Productions (2). In 1966 the label had a P.O. Box address in St. Johnsvllle. NY. (east of Utica). In 1976, Kama was located at 760 Blandina Street, Utica, NY, and operated by Stanley Markowski, a victim of polio since an infant. Markowski had been president of Mark Records (2) and Renown Record Mfg. Co. before he was arrested as part of a disk bootlegging ring with mafia ties in 1960. Kama was connected to Oneida Video-Audio Tape Cassette Corp.. It claimed to be the only record pressing plant in New York besides the Decca factory in Gloversville. A 1974 Billboard ad he placed brought in a significant amount of custom pressing business, including an album for Murray the K. The article claims Markowski started Kama Records in 1973, signing mostly local groups, but there were Kama releases as early as 1962. Tiny Tim, who was not under contract with any label, released a one-off 45 with the company in 1976. Kama’s biggest seller was a Rome, NY quartet named Target. Kama sold 20,000 copies of their first single, “Give Me One More Chance.” Another local singer on the label was Helene Garrett, who sang country music. (From a 1976 article in the Utica NY Daily Press)