CGD was founded in 1948 by singer
Teddy Reno. At that time it was established in Milan in Via Passarella 4. As artistic director Reno called fellow musician
Lelio Luttazzi, who replaced
David Matalon as Head of International Production in 1956. By collaborating with some publishers such as
Suvini-Zerboni and
Messaggerie Musicali, CGD was able to hire many artists who roused much success as
Giorgio Consolini,
Betty Curtis and
Johnny Dorelli. In 1959, Teddy Reno sold CGD to
Ladislao Sugar, a publisher of Hungarian origins and future entrepreneurial owner of the Sugar Group, which was founded by
Carlo Alberto Rossi's
Casa Editrice Arison, and then abandoned to buy Musical Messengers (Messaggerie Musicali). It was on this occasion that he came into contact with Teddy Reno. In 1961, CGD moved to
Galleria del Corso, where many other record labels and music publishing were located. In 1968, Ladislas decided to focus on the publishing division
Grove Press and was replaced by his son, Peter.
Merger with CBS Italia In 1966, CGD made an agreement with
CBS to distribute its catalog in Italy. In 1970, CGD eventually merged with CBS Italia and established
CBS Sugar. In 1973, it moved to Via Quintiliano 40. In 1977, when CBS decided to open its own premises in Italy, all the Italian artists who recorded for CBS were incorporated with CGD and their records were reissued by the new record label. Some time later,
Piero Sugar's wife, pop star
Caterina Caselli decided to establish a satellite record company,
Sugar Music, supporting non-mainstream acts like
The Radio Dept,
Franco Fanigliulo,
Piccola Orchestra Avion Travel and
Elisa Toffoli.
Later years Throughout the 1980s, CGD continued its operations with nine subsidiary labels. A notable signee during this decade was the late American singer
Nicolette Larson, who recorded only one album for the company,
Shadows of Love. In 1988, CGD, like many other record companies, ran out of business.
East West Records and parent company
Warner Music Group, bought the label and continued its operations. In 1995, it changed its name to
CGD East West. In 2004, the label was eventually absorbed into
Atlantic Records. ==External links==