Wild Records

Wild Records is an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California, founded by Reb Kennedy in 2001. The label operates in the roots-music field, with a repertoire centered on rockabilly, rock and roll, blues, soul, and adjacent forms of historically informed popular music. Its activities extend beyond simply issuing recordings: Wild Records has been described as signing, recording, promoting, and booking artists, giving it a broader artist-development and live-music role than a narrowly release-focused imprint. The label's first signing was Lil Luis y Los Wild Teens. Their initial release was "La Rebeldona," a Mexican rock-and-roll recording issued as a 45 RPM single. This early release established several characteristics associated with Wild Records: an interest in vintage recording formats, a connection to Spanish-language and Mexican-American rock-and-roll traditions, and a preference for music that draws directly on earlier styles while remaining contemporary in performance and presentation. Wild Records has built its identity around performers who reinterpret classic American and related roots genres without presenting them solely as museum pieces. Public descriptions of the label emphasize the artists' ability to create modern music while retaining an authentic relationship with the original sounds and cultural traditions that influenced them. The roster and associated live activity have connected the label with the international rockabilly and rock-and-roll festival circuit. Acts affiliated with Wild Records have regularly appeared as headliners or prominent performers at events including The Rockabilly Rave, High Rockabilly, Viva Las Vegas, Sjock Festival, and Let's Get Wild. The label's geographic reach expanded formally in 2015, when it announced the creation of Wild Records Europe. The European division reflected the label's existing international audience and its involvement in a festival network that spans North America and Europe. Available reference material does not establish the division's current corporate structure, ownership, or operating headquarters, but its creation indicates an effort to support the label's artists and activities in European markets. Wild Records and Reb Kennedy were also the subjects of the independent documentary film "Los Wild Ones," released in 2013. The film toured the international film circuit and received generally positive attention according to the available reference material. Rather than focusing only on performances or the mechanics of an independent label, it examined the personal relationships among musicians associated with the Wild Records community. This portrayal reinforced the label's image as a close-knit cultural and artistic network as well as a commercial music company. Wild Records' positioning is therefore rooted in authenticity, physical-record culture, live performance, and the preservation and renewal of roots-oriented styles. Its public profile comes from the combination of specialized genre focus, international festival participation, artist promotion, and documentary visibility. Specific revenue figures, ownership information, a complete current roster, and the label's present distribution arrangements are not established by the supplied sources.

Wild Records was formed in Los Angeles in 2001 by Reb Kennedy as an independent label devoted to roots-oriented music. Its genre scope includes rockabilly, rock and roll, blues, soul, and neighboring traditions. The label's identity is based on maintaining a direct connection to the sound, performance practices, and visual culture of earlier roots genres while giving contemporary artists a platform for new work. The first act signed to the label was Lil Luis y Los Wild Teens. Their first release, "La Rebeldona," was a Mexican rock-and-roll song issued on a 45 RPM record. The release was significant in establishing the label's interest in physical formats and in musical traditions that connect American rock and roll with Mexican and Latino cultural contexts. From that starting point, Wild Records expanded its work beyond recording releases. The label has been associated with signing artists, producing or recording their music, promoting their work, and arranging bookings. Wild Records became particularly visible through the live performance and festival circuit. Artists associated with the label have appeared at major rockabilly and rock-and-roll events, including The Rockabilly Rave, High Rockabilly, Viva Las Vegas, Sjock Festival, and Let's Get Wild. These appearances helped connect a Los Angeles-based label with an international audience and reinforced its reputation for artists who could perform contemporary material while remaining faithful to the foundations of the styles they represented. The label's public story was documented in the independent film "Los Wild Ones," released in 2013. The film centered on Wild Records and Reb Kennedy and circulated internationally through the film festival circuit. Its subject was broader than the label's recordings: it also examined personal relationships among the musicians connected with the organization. The film consequently presented Wild Records as a community and cultural network, not merely as a business issuing records. On September 1, 2015, Wild Records announced the establishment of Wild Records Europe. The move gave the label a named European division and reflected the strong European presence of rockabilly and related roots-music scenes. The available material does not specify the division's legal organization, headquarters, distribution arrangements, or current status. Publicly available information supplied for this dossier does not provide a complete current roster, detailed discography, financial information, ownership structure, or verified corporate leadership beyond Reb Kennedy's role as founder. The label is nevertheless characterized by a consistent focus on roots music, physical recordings, artist promotion, and international live performance. Its significance lies in its role as an independent platform that combines genre preservation with contemporary artist activity and a transatlantic festival network.

• 2015

  Wild Records Europe is announced

  [1]Wild Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label announces the creation of a European division to support its international activities.

• 2013

  Los Wild Ones is released

  [1]Wild Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  An independent documentary about Wild Records, Reb Kennedy, and the relationships among associated musicians is released and tours the international film circuit.

• 2001

  Wild Records is established

  [1]Wild Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Reb Kennedy forms Wild Records in Los Angeles as an independent label focused on rockabilly, rock and roll, blues, soul, and related roots music.

• 2001

  First signing and release

  [1]Wild Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Lil Luis y Los Wild Teens become the label's first signed act and release the Mexican rock-and-roll song "La Rebeldona" on a 45 RPM record.

An independent, roots-focused record label emphasizing rockabilly and related vintage-derived genres, physical releases, artist authenticity, and international live performance.

• 45 RPM single · 2001

  La Rebeldona

  A Mexican rock-and-roll song recorded by Lil Luis y Los Wild Teens and identified as Wild Records' first release. Issued as a 45 RPM record, it established the label's early connection to physical-format collecting culture and to the cross-border roots of rock and roll.

• Recorded music catalog

  Wild Records roots-music catalog

  The label's broader catalog encompasses recordings associated with rockabilly, rock and roll, blues, soul, and related roots styles. The supplied sources do not provide a complete discography or identify every major release, but describe the catalog as contemporary music grounded in the original traditions that inspire it.

• 2013Los Wild Ones documentary

  International film circuit

  The independent documentary presented Wild Records and Reb Kennedy through the experiences and personal relationships of the label's musicians, bringing the organization to audiences beyond the specialist music scene.

  Outcome. The film toured internationally and received generally positive praise according to the available reference material.

  Source
• International rockabilly festival circuit

  United States · Europe

  Wild Records artists have been promoted through appearances at festivals including The Rockabilly Rave, High Rockabilly, Viva Las Vegas, Sjock Festival, and Let's Get Wild.

  Outcome. These appearances contributed to the label's international visibility and positioned its artists within the global rockabilly and rock-and-roll community.

  Source

• 2015

  Creation of Wild Records EuropeStrategy

  Background

  Wild Records had developed an international profile through its artists' participation in rockabilly and rock-and-roll festivals, particularly across Europe.

  Action taken

  The label announced a dedicated European division on September 1, 2015.

  Aftermath

  The announcement formalized the label's European presence, although the supplied sources do not describe its subsequent legal structure, management, or operating results.

  Source

1. 1Wild Recordsen.wikipedia.org