Lofton Creek Records
Founded1999
FounderHarold Shafer, Vicky Shafer, Mike Borchetta, Martha Borchetta
Defunct2011
GenreCountry
Country of originU.S.
LocationNashville, Tennessee

Lofton Creek Records was an American independent country music record label. The label is notable for releasing "I Loved Her First", a number-one single for the band Heartland.

History

Harold Shafer and his wife Vicky founded Lofton Creek Records in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1999. Three years later, Mike Borchetta (father of record executive Scott Borchetta[1]) and his wife Martha joined as business partners.[2][3] The label was based in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2003, they also distributed the Big Al label, which was founded by country singer J. Michael Harter.[4] By 2004, the Borchettas owned a twenty percent stake in Lofton Creek, and the label had just signed Jeffrey Steele.[5] The label had its first chart entry in 2004 with Keith Bryant's "Ridin' with the Legend", a tribute song to Dale Earnhardt.[6] This song charted at number 47 on Billboard Hot Country Songs in late 2004.[7]

The label achieved a number-one single on the same chart in 2006 with Heartland's "I Loved Her First".[8] The label signed Gwen Sebastian in 2009.[9] American Idol finalist Carmen Rasmusen also recorded for the label.[1] Mark Chesnutt signed with Lofton Creek in 2007 and released his album Rollin' with the Flow that year.[10] Gwen Sebastian signed with Lofton Creek in 2009 prior to her becoming a contestant on The Voice.[11]

Harold Shafer died in 2011 after complications from a stroke. The label had no releases after this.[6]

Notable artists

References

  1. ^ a b "15 Overlooked Gems From 'American Idol' Singers". Billboard. June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  2. ^ "Local record label looking at good odds". Jacksonville Business Journal. February 28, 2003. ProQuest 233208705. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  3. ^ "Borchettas click with Lofton Creek Records". Wilson Post. September 28, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  4. ^ Stark, Phyllis (2004-03-11). "J. Michael Harter Bows Big Al". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
  5. ^ Jeanne Anne Naujeck (May 23, 2004). "A bumper crop". The Tennessean. pp. 1E, 2E. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Industry Ink: Dierks, Lifenotes, HealthTrust Dinner". MusicRow. August 29, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2017). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2017. Record Research, Inc. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-89820-229-8.
  8. ^ Morris, Edward (2006-11-13). "Heartland Scores a No. 1 Its First Time Out". CMT.com. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  9. ^ "Lofton Creek Debuts New Acts". MusicRow. November 3, 2009. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  10. ^ "Mark Chesnutt Signs to Lofton Creek". CMT. June 28, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  11. ^ "Gwen Sebastian to play the Belle". The Bismarck Tribune. October 31, 2014. pp. 1C. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
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