Dan Storper founded Putumayo in 1975 as a retail store in New York City featuring handicrafts from around the world.

The response from the public was so positive that, in 1993, he launched Putumayo World Music and began offering compilations for sale.

Since the release of the World Playground CD in 1999, Putumayo Kids music collections have received over 20 Parents' Choice Awards[6] among other accolades.

[9] That same year, Putumayo started a series of world greeting card collections that have featured international folk art and photography by illustrator Nicola Heindl, photographer Emerson Matabele, Brazilian block print artist José Francisco Borges, Louisiana Folk Artist William Hemmerling, London artist Christopher Corr and Louisiana painter George Rodrigue.

[10] Putumayo's products are sold at a network of thousands of book, gift, clothing, coffee and other specialty retailers around the world.