AES 123rd Convention - Where Audio Comes Alive
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AES New York 2007
Historical Event H2

Saturday, October 6, 5:00 pm — 7:00 pm
H2 - LEGENDS OF NASHVILLE SOUND/HISTORY OF NASHVILLE'S RECORDING STUDIOS

Moderators:
Jim Kaiser
Bil VornDick
Wesley Bulla, Belmont University - Nashville, TN, USA
Cosette Collier, Middle Tennessee State University - Murfreesboro, TN, USA
Michael Janas, Belmont University - Nashville, TN, USA

Abstract:
The development of a recording industry in Nashville began in the 1940s with facilities in local radio stations like WSM and later with Castle Recording Studios in 1946. With the dominance of live programming from the Grand Ole Opry in country radio and the move by major labels such as Victor, Columbia, and Decca to Nashville, there was a real need for more professional recording studios.

In 1954 Owen and Harold Bradley moved their recording studio to 16th Avenue South to become the first business on what would become known as "Music Row." This studio, dubbed "the Quonset Hut," was originally designed for recording songs for film but quickly became part of traditional country recording history with timeless hits by Patsy Cline.

RCA Studio B, built in 1957, is the oldest recording studio in Nashville. Designed on a napkin by Chet Atkins and his engineer Bill Miltenburg, it was home to a string of hits from 1957 to 1977 with artists including Perry Como, Al Hirt, the Everly Brothers, Bobby
Goldsboro, the Monkees, Jerry Reed, Eddy Arnold, Willie Nelson, Charlie Pride, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, and Elvis.

Within these studio walls, engineers, musicians, producers, and artists created what will be forever known as "The Nashville Sound." This is their story, recounted by the people involved, including renowned recording engineer Bill Porter, producer Fred Foster, "A
Team" musicians Harold Bradley, Bob Moore, Boots Randolph, Lloyd Green, Charlie McCoy, and others. In April, 2006, the AES Nashville Section sponsored a "Legends in the Round" round-table discussion at the Country Music Hall of Fame with these illustrious participants, followed by an historic recreation at RCA Studio B of their recording
of the hits "Crazy" (Patsy Cline), "Please Help Me I'm Falling" (Hank Locklin), "Yackety Sax" (Boots Randolph), and "Today I Started Loving You Again" (Charlie McCoy). Videotape from these two events will be a major part of the presentation, along with how these two recording studios have been restored to their original condition for use as both museums and hands-on educational opportunities for music industry students.


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