Sal Paradise Records is the music imprint of the Jack Kerouac Estate, born from a desire to honor the sonic side of the Beat legacy. Named for Jack’s legendary alter ego in On the Road, the label is a home for artists who push boundaries, challenge norms, and create with unapologetic authenticity.
All Sal Paradise Records releases are lovingly curated by Jim Sampas and Sylvia Cunha.
Jim Sampas has produced several internationally acclaimed film, audio book, and album projects working with such prestigious entertainment companies as Sub Pop, Rykodisc, Atlantic Records, Warner Bros., Blackstone Audio, Penguin Random House, Razor and Tie, USA Films, Universal Pictures, and many others. Music journalist Ray Badgett in a recent Bloomsbury Academic publication exploring the history of the ‘tribute album,’ writes that Jim Sampas (along with Joe Sporado) has “done more than anyone to bring the tribute album into the twenty-first century.”
Sylvia Cunha is a respected music industry executive with over 20 years of experience in promotion, marketing, fan engagement, and live event creation. She has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, promoters, festivals, and venues, with her work featured in publications such as Billboard, Pollstar, Deadline Hollywood, The Boston Globe, and more. Her career began when Carl Strube and Jerry Brenner took a chance and hired her to head up production at Critique Records, an imprint of BMG. There, she worked on a wide slate of releases and gained invaluable experience under the mentorship of Jerry Brenner Promotions who was Boston’s leading record promotion team for decades, renowned for breaking countless iconic artists. Sylvia credits them with giving her the start that shaped her path in the industry.
We champion musicians who blur genres, speak truth, and embody the restless curiosity that Jack carried coast to coast. From jazz and folk to indie rock, pop, country, punk to experimental sound, and spoken word, Sal Paradise Records is committed to preserving the past, amplifying the present, and igniting what’s next.
Whether it’s rare archival recordings, new collaborations, or original releases, our mission is simple: elevate voices that matter and help artists tell their stories, their way.
