in february of 1971, larry ray and bill szymczyk fled an earthquake and a debauched l.a. music scene to claim their own slice of utopia in denver, colorado. after meeting and bonding at abc-dunhill, where ray landed as general manager, and where szymczyk had breezed in from new york fresh off his first real hit as a burgeoning engineer/producer with bb kings. the thrill is gone theyd often daydreamed about starting their own label.