Candix Enterprises (stylized as CANDIX Enterprises) was an independent American record label known primarily for releasing the Beach Boys' first single, "Surfin'.

History

The label was established on August 26, 1960 by brothers Richard and Bob Dix. Candix was named for the label's president Bob Silva, whose stepfather's name was Canaday, and the Dix brothers. Joe Saraceno was the label's A&R director. Notable artists included Lou Rawls and the Frogmen, whose 1961 single "Underwater" reached number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Prior to releasing their first single "Surfin" on the label, the Beach Boys were briefly known as the Surfers, which was the name included on the acetate that found its way to Candix. Record promoter Russ Regan, whose employer handled distribution of the single, has been credited as giving the Beach Boys their name. "Surfin" became a local hit, but Bob Dix was unable to pay the original pressing plant and established X Records, a subsidiary of Candix, in December 1961 as a way to get more copies of the record pressed. In January 1962, Saraceno, then no longer employed with the label, contacted Herb Newman of Era Records, who distributed the third pressing of the single under the Candix name. "Surfin" reached number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1962. The Beach Boys only received $990 in royalties from the single.

The Candix record label was frequently plagued with financial issues. Silva was accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the company, and was dismissed as president in July 1961. Richard and Bob's brother Sherman failed to put his real estate profits back into the company and "spent the money on a lavish personal lifestyle". The record label closed around August–September 1962, just a few months after The Beach Boys signed with Capitol Records.

Discography

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