Legendary Recording Studios in Nashville: Breeding Grounds for Country Music Greatness

Blackbird Recording Studios In Nashville

When you think of Nashville, Tennessee, a few things come to mind - hot chicken, Southern charm, and of course, Country music. Music City USA, as it's affectionately known, is steeped in a rich musical heritage, and it owes much of this legacy to its recording studios. They've been the creative backdrop for countless hit songs, fostering and shaping the evolution of country music. Let's take a virtual tour through some of the most famous and significant recording studios in Nashville, focusing on their impact on the country music landscape.

RCA Studio B

No list of Nashville's recording studios would be complete without RCA Studio B, the birthplace of the Nashville Sound. This studio opened its doors in 1957 and revolutionized the country music industry by introducing lush, orchestral arrangements into the traditionally raw, honky-tonk genre. Chet Atkins, the studio's first manager, and a team of seasoned session musicians forged a new, smoother style of country music aimed at reaching a broader, pop-oriented audience.

Over 35,000 songs were recorded here, including more than 1,000 Top Ten hits. The list of artists who recorded at Studio B reads like a who's who of country music: Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and the Everly Brothers, to name a few. Parton's "Jolene" and Presley's "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" were both created here, adding to the studio's legendary status.

Grand Victor Sound Nashville (formerly RCA Studio A)

Just a few steps from Studio B is the equally revered Studio A. Founded in 1964 by Chet Atkins and Owen Bradley, it was designed to accommodate large orchestras and choirs, allowing artists to explore the limits of the Nashville Sound. This studio was instrumental in propelling country music onto the global stage, shaping hits for legends like Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Charley Pride.

In 2014, Studio A was almost demolished for condominiums but was saved by philanthropist and musician Aubrey Preston and pop artist Ben Folds. Today, it's a thriving hub for both established artists and rising stars, maintaining its reputation as a home for creativity and innovation in country music.

The Quonset Hut Studio

The Quonset Hut was Nashville's first major recording studio. Owen and Harold Bradley launched it in the 1950s in an old Army surplus Quonset Hut, marking the beginning of what would become Nashville's Music Row. The studio gave birth to the Nashville Sound and was a popular recording site for artists from Patsy Cline to Johnny Cash.

Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry" and Patsy Cline's "Crazy" were recorded here, proving the studio's knack for producing timeless hits. Although operations ceased in 1982, its legacy was revived when Belmont University restored the studio to its former glory in 2006, preserving this crucial piece of country music history.

Ocean Way Recording Studio

Ocean Way Nashville, established in a 100-year-old grey stone church on Music Row, stands as an embodiment of Nashville's deep musical history while continuously shaping its future. Renowned for its unique acoustics and high-tech equipment, the studio has played host to numerous country music titans, including Willie Nelson, George Strait, and Brad Paisley, among others. Its impact on country music is particularly notable in the studio's facilitation of live ensemble recordings - a somewhat lost art in the modern era of digital production - which allows for a rich, organic sound that harks back to country music's roots. By helping preserve the traditional warmth and depth in country music recording, while still pushing technological boundaries, Ocean Way has crafted a significant legacy within the genre. Through this, Ocean Way Nashville continues to serve as a vital conduit between the heritage of country music and its modern evolution.

The Sound Kitchen

The Sound Kitchen opened its doors in the 1990s in Franklin, just south of Nashville. Since then, it has become a go-to studio for both emerging talents and established artists looking for top-notch production services and a creative environment. Artists as diverse as Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, and Carrie Underwood have all recorded within its walls, underscoring the studio’s reputation for quality.

Key to the Sound Kitchen's impact on country music is its blend of state-of-the-art technology with a comforting, creative atmosphere. The studio's seven uniquely designed rooms, including the popular "Big Boy" studio with its renowned acoustics, are equipped with the latest recording technology, enabling artists to experiment and push the boundaries of the country music genre.

One of the most notable albums recorded at the Sound Kitchen is Taylor Swift's 'Fearless.' Swift, who started her career as a country artist, recorded several songs from this album at the Sound Kitchen, and it went on to become the best-selling album of 2009 in the US. 'Fearless' not only established Swift as a major player in the music industry, but it also introduced a younger audience to country music, contributing to the genre's renewal and expansion.

Sound Emporium

Founded by Cowboy Jack Clement in 1969, Sound Emporium has been a cornerstone of Nashville's music scene for over half a century. The studio is noted for its versatility, welcoming a diverse range of artists from Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers to Robert Plant and Taylor Swift.

Significant albums like "Red Headed Stranger" by Willie Nelson and the Grammy-winning "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack were crafted within its walls. Today, Sound Emporium continues its commitment to fostering musical creativity, bridging the gap between Nashville's storied past and its dynamic future.

Blackbird Studio

Established in 2002 by John and Martina McBride, Blackbird Studio is a relative newcomer in the Nashville scene, but it has quickly become one of the world's premier recording facilities. Equipped with nine studios and boasting an extensive collection of equipment, Blackbird has attracted a diverse roster of artists, from Kings of Leon to Tim McGraw.

Blackbird has a special place in the modern country landscape, facilitating the genre's ongoing evolution and pushing its boundaries. This forward-looking studio demonstrates that while Nashville respects and cherishes its musical roots, it's not afraid to innovate and redefine country music.

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Nashville's recording studios are much more than mere buildings. They are living, breathing entities that continue to shape, innovate, and inspire the country music landscape. Their contribution to music extends beyond country, affecting pop, rock, and folk genres, among others. These studios are a testament to Nashville's commitment to musical innovation and the cultivation of talent, confirming its status as one of the world's great music cities.

Whether preserving the traditions of the Nashville Sound or driving the evolution of country music into new territories, these studios have made and continue to make an indelible impact. They remind us that country music isn't merely a genre, but a rich tapestry of stories, emotions, and experiences, woven together in studios throughout Nashville, and shared with the world.

Don Everly Of The Everly Brothers Passes Away At Age Of 84

For the second time this weekend we have to say goodbye to a Kentucky-born Hall of Famer.

Don Everly died Saturday (8/21) at his Nashville home of a reported heart attack.

The elder of the Everly Brothers was born in Kentucky (whereas brother Phil was born in Chicago) in 1937.  Father Ike was instrumental in teaching the two boys love of music and harmony, inspired by contemporary brother duets for both father (the Blue Sky Boys) and sons (the Louvin Brothers).  

Armed with those harmonies and a boatload of Felice and Boudleaux Bryant songs, the Everly Brothers hit the music scene in the mid-50s, where things were starting to get “fuzzy” as to what was country, rockabilly, or rock and roll.  The music of the Everlys hit the right spot for fans of all three, scoring them success after success on both the pop and country charts.  Rightfully so, they’re in both the Rock and Country halls of fame.

Both brothers enlisted in the Marine Corps (there’s a famous clip of them singing “Ebony Eyes” and “Crying in the Rain” in their uniforms on The Ed Sullivan Show) and slowly drifted apart.  They infamously broke up onstage during a show in 1972.  Paul McCartney, a diehard fan, helped reunite them in the early 80s (he wrote their comeback song “On the Wings of a Nightingale”).

They managed to tolerate each other on stage for the fans at Everly Brothers Homecoming shows in Central City, Kentucky, but eventually they stopped performing together.  The brotherly harmony that brought musical heaven was, as in so many other cases in music history, driven apart.

When Phil died of COPD in 2014 Don said that “our love will always be deeper than any earthly differences we might have had.”  Those included politics: Don said, in endorsing a presidential candidate in 2016, that the brothers’ views were so totally opposite that they could never have done a political fundraiser. 

And so we bid farewell to yet another true American music icon (as the Musicians Hall of Fame Facebook page stated when they broke the news).  Fans of them, and their influences (if you didn’t know, Don’s daughter inspired the rock band Guns ‘n’ Roses to do “Sweet Child o’ Mine”), won’t have to do their crying in the rain over this one.

Don Everly was 84.

K.F. Raizor, author of the website Raizor's Edge and the book We Can't Sing and We Ain't Funny: The World of Homer and Jethro is our guest writer today on That Nashville Sound. She's ever so gracious to provide wonderful tributes to honor those to whom the music we treasure just wouldn't be the same without. Thank you, K.F.

Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis Team Up Again For Upcoming Come See Me & Come Lonely

Artist: Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis
Album: Come See Me & Come Lonely
Label: Goldenlane
Release date: November 10, 2017

Two female legends of contemporary country music have combined forces on a new album, combining voices, vision and talents again after their critically-acclaimed 2013 project Dos Divas. Altogether, these two artists have sold well over 10 million albums worldwide, not to mention they both come from country royalty - Pam is the daughter of icon Mel Tillis and Lorrie, the daughter of hitmaker George Morgan. The two of have chosen some of their favorite country songs including those originally made famous by Dottie West, Billie Jo Spears' "Blanket On The Ground," and Dwight Yoakam's "Guitars, Cadillacs" plus early rock favorites such as Roy Orbison's "It's Over" and The Everly Brothers' "Walk Right Back." The project includes special guest appearances by Joe Diffie & Darryl Worley as well.

Track listing:

  1. Do Ya
  2. Walk Right Back
  3. It's Over
  4. Guitars, Cadillacs
  5. Summer Wine Feat. Joe Diffie & Darryl Worley
  6. Saunders Ferry Lane
  7. Rose in Paradise
  8. Blanket on the Ground
  9. Tennessee Waltz
  10. It Doesn't Matter Anymore
  11. The End of the World
  12. Come See Me and Come Lonely

The Curtain Falls On Many Country Music Voices in 2014

K.F. Raizor, author of the website Raizor's Edge and the book We Can't Sing and We Ain't Funny: The World of Homer and Jethro is our guest writer today on That Nashville Sound. She lists some of the musicians and singers we lost along the way in country music this year. She's ever so gracious to provide a wonderful tribute each year to honor those to whom the music we treasure just wouldn't be the same without. Thank you, K.F.

Here are the people from the world of country music who performed their final song in 2014:

Bud Andrews (August 30, unknown cause, age 74):  DJ who is credited with discovering country comedians Jerry Clower and Jerry Jordan, he produced Clower's early records as well as Jordan's "Phone Call From God."

Jeanne Black (October 23, Alzheimer's disease, age 76):  singer best known for her "answer song" to Jim Reeves' "He'll Have to Go," "He'll Have to Stay."

Joe Carr (December 15, stroke, age 63):  longtime bluegrass musician and video instructor.

Courtney Cash (March 19, murdered [stabbed to death], age 23):  granddaughter of country singer Tommy Cash.

Paul Craft (October 18, illness, age 76):  songwriter behind well-known tunes both serious ("Midnight Flyer") and silly ("It's Me Again, Margaret").  Craft fell ill while at his induction ceremony at the Nashville Songwriters' Hall of Fame.

Penny DeHaven (February 23, cancer, age 65):  singer who had some hits on her own ("Mama Lou," a cover of "Down in the Boondocks") and duets with Del Reeves ("Land Mark Tavern").

Mundo Earwood (April 21, pancreatic cancer, age 61):  singer best known for the 1978 top 20 hit "Things I'd Do for You."

Phil Everly (January 3, COPD, age 74):  the younger of the Everly Brothers, a duet that managed to delight both country and rock fans in the late 1950's and early 1960's.  Their reward was induction into both halls of fame.

Steven Fromholz (January 19, accidentally shot in hunting accident, age 68):  Texas' poet laureate and songwriter best known nationally for writing "I'd Have to be Crazy," which Willie Nelson recorded.

Stella Fulks (March 31, unknown causes, age 96):  grandmother of alt-country singer Robbie Fulks.

George Hamilton IV (September 17, complications of heart attack, age 77):  the "International Ambassador of Country Music" had numerous hits in his career, including the crossover hits "A Rose and a Baby Ruth" and "Abilene."

Larry Henley (December 18, long illness, age 77):  one-time member of the pop group the Newbeats ("Bread and Butter"), he went on to a long career as a songwriter ("Till I Get It Right," "Is It Still Over?," "He's a Heartache [Looking for a Place to Happen]").  One of his best-known compositions is "Wind Beneath My Wings."

Lois Johnson (July 7, long illness, age 72):  the "girl singer" on the Ernest Tubb Show, she charted with her own hits ("Loving You Will Never Grow Old") and singing duets with Hank Williams Jr.

Don Lanier (July 23, unknown cause, age 78):  one-time guitarist in Buddy Knox's Rhythm Orchids and songwriter whose song "Here We Go Again" was recorded by the likes of Ray Charles and George Strait.

Gregory "Kip" Martin (January 29, liver disease, age 61):  bluegrass bassist who played with Jimmy Martin.

Priscilla Mitchell (September 24, illness, age 73):  the widow of Jerry Reed was best known as a singer for her duet "Yes, Mr. Peters" with Roy Drusky in 1965.

Bob Montgomery (December 4, Parkinson's disease, age 77):  songwriter whose composition "Misty Blue" was a hit four different times, including once in pop.

Weldon Myrick (June 2, stroke, age 76):  a steel guitarist's steel guitarist, the Steel Hall of Famer wrote songs (recorded by acts ranging from Buddy Holly to the Wilburn Brothers) and contributed significantly to the country soundtrack of the 1960's, both as a session man and as a Grand Ole Opry staff musician.

Jimmy C. Newman (June 21, cancer, age 86):  a Louisiana native who came to the Grand Ole Opry on the strength of country hits such as "A Fallen Star" and "Cry, Cry Darling" but always highlighted the Cajun music of his home state.

Parker Rector (March 12, cancer, age 86):  the widow of bluegrass legend Red Rector and historian on his career.

George Riddle (July 19, throat cancer, age 78):  guitarist and songwriter who worked for years with George Jones.

Dawn Sears (December 11, lung cancer, age 53):  powerhouse female vocalist who sang with the supergroup the Time Jumpers, Sears died four days after her 53rd birthday.

Kevin Sharp (April 19, complications of stomach surgery, age 43):  country singer best known for his #1 hit "Nobody Knows" endured a long battle with various health problems, including bone cancer.

James Alan Shelton (June 3, cancer, age 51):  bluegrass guitarist who spent nearly two decades playing with Dr. Ralph Stanley.

George Shuffler (April 7, long illness, age 88):  bluegrass guitarist who is widely considered the father of bluegrass's cross-picking style of playing.

Little Jimmy Sizemore (October 14, natural causes, age 87):  an early country singer and Grand Ole Opry performer.

Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith (April 3, natural causes, age 93):  in addition to his namesake song "Guitar Boogie" (which he used in his name because of the number of people named "Arthur Smith" in country music at the time), he wrote "Feudin' Banjos," later known as the song from Deliverance, "Deuling Banjos."

Velma Smith (July 31, illness, age 87):  one of Nashville's first female session musicians, she played guitar on countless sessions in the golden era of Nashville.

Henry Strzelecki (December 30, hit by a car, age 75):  legendary session bassist who played with Dylan as well as Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Tom T. Hall, and countless others.

Jerry Sullivan (May 31, illness, age 80):  longtime bluegrass gospel performer in the Sullivan Family and with his daughter as Jerry & Tammy Sullivan.

Johnny Vincent (October 5, long illness, age 73):  the founder of the Sally Mountain Bluegrass Festival in Missouri was also the patriarch of bluegrass royalty:  children Darrin (Dailey & Vincent) and Rhonda are superstars in bluegrass.

Lou Whitney (October 7, cancer, age 72):  Springfield, Missouri-based musician, producer, and recording engineer who played on and produced, among others, Robbie Fulks' second album, South Mouth.

Tim Wilson (February 26, ruptured aorta, age 52): country stand-up comedian, singer ("Garth Brooks Has Ruined My Life," "Jeff Gordon's Gay"), songwriter ("The Twelve Redneck Days of Christmas," "Arab, Alabama") and record producer.

Chip Young (December 20, complications from heart surgery, age 76):  Thumbpicker Hall of Fame session guitar player who worked with the likes of Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, and Charley Pride.

Jesse Winchester Passes Away At The Age Of 69

“You can’t talk about the best songwriters and not include him.” – Bob Dylan
“The word that comes to mind is grace.” – Elvis Costello

Jesse Winchester, a singer’s singer and a songwriter’s songwriter, died of bladder cancer on April 11, 2014, at the age of 69. His voice, by turns ethereal, sly, earthy, and heartbreakingly direct, delivered some of the finest songs of our time over more than four decades of live performance, and twelve original albums, including the forthcoming A Reasonable Amount of Trouble. His songs have been covered by artists as different as Jimmy Buffett, Elvis Costello, Reba McEntire, Wilson Pickett, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt and the Everly Brothers.

Jesse Winchester was born May 17, 1944 in Bossier City, Louisiana, to James Ridout Winchester and Frances (Manire) Winchester. He spent his early years in Mississippi, and moved to Memphis with his family at age 12, where his father went to work with the Winchester law firm. There, Jesse’s ears were opened to the sounds of rhythm and blues and rockabilly via radio stations such as WDIA, where B.B. King and Rufus Thomas hosted shows, and WHBQ, where the irrepressible Dewey Phillips mixed the music of black and white acts in a glorious jumble. Jesse got his first guitar shortly after arriving in Memphis, and began playing in bands around town while attending Christian Brothers High School.

Winchester left Memphis to attend Williams College, from which he graduated (after a brief period studying, and playing with a band, in Munich, Germany) in 1966. Soon thereafter he received a piece of mail that would profoundly alter the course of his life – a draft notice summoning him to serve in Vietnam. Deeply disturbed by the war and the prospect of killing in what he considered a dubious cause, Winchester abruptly left the United States for Montreal, Canada, where he was to live for the next 36 years.

In Montreal he made his living first playing with various bands, including one called Les Astronauts, whose members were required to dress in spaceman costumes. Deciding that space travel was not his forte, he began to focus on solo performance and, more importantly, songwriting. The first song he wrote, “The Brand-New Tennessee Waltz,” set a very high standard, and remained a signature tune for him. It was eventually covered by Joan Baez, Ralph Stanley, the Everly Brothers, and, in 2000, Patti Page, who had recorded the original “Tennessee Waltz” fifty years earlier.

In 1970, his self-titled first album, Jesse Winchester, was released. Produced by Robbie Robertson and engineered by Todd Rundgren, the album contained several of Jesse’s most enduring and popular songs, including “The Brand New Tennessee Waltz,” “Payday,” “Biloxi,” “Yankee Lady,” and the haunting “Quiet About It.” The record firmly established his reputation as both songwriter and performer, and a succession of albums followed as he kept up a busy touring schedule through Canada, Australia, and Europe.

In 1977, President Jimmy Carter announced an amnesty for those who had left the country to avoid being sent to Vietnam, and Jesse was finally able to visit, and perform in, the United States. He did not, however, consider moving back. “I had a Canadian wife,” he said later, “Canadian children, and a Canadian mortgage.” Based in Montreal, he continued busily touring and recording through the 1980s.

On the eve of the 1990s, tired of touring, and with his songs being recorded regularly by top country artists such as Reba McEntire and Wynonna Judd, Winchester took nearly a full decade off from traveling and performing to stay home and concentrate on songwriting. At the end of that decade, Winchester recorded Gentleman of Leisure, an album containing his pick of the songs he’d written during that time. The record, produced by Jerry Douglas, remained one of Winchester’s favorites among his own recordings.

In 2002, he met his future wife, Cindy, and the next year moved back to the United States, settling in Charlottesville, Virginia, after a brief period in his old home town of Memphis. In 2007 he was awarded ASCAP’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.  He maintained a comfortable touring schedule and continued to write new songs, the best of which made up his 2009 album Love Filling Station.

But a 2010 appearance on Elvis Costello’s Sundance series Spectacle introduced Jesse’s music to a new and larger audience. Alongside Costello, Neko Case, Sheryl Crow, and Ron Sexsmith, Jesse performed several songs, most notably the stunning “Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding,” from Love Filling Station, a tender and shockingly beautiful ode to the nonsense lyrics in the teenage love songs of the 1950s. The performance literally stopped the show, according to Costello. “I just bowed my head,” the host said, “and told the audience that they had to go home because I could not gather myself to make the next introduction, such was supernatural beauty of his voice.” That performance quickly became a word-of-mouth sensation via YouTube, and Winchester’s performing schedule went into a higher gear.

That wave of activity was brought to an abrupt halt in June 2011, when Jesse was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. He underwent surgery and a brief but difficult treatment, which he faced with extraordinary dignity and spirit. Amazingly, in August of that year he was pronounced cancer-free, and he resumed his performing schedule. During his illness, an all-star group of artists recorded an excellent tribute album of Jesse’s songs, entitled Quiet About It. Jimmy Buffett, one of Jesse’s biggest fans, was the driving force behind the tribute.

In February 2014, cancer was found again, and this time it was untreatable. Jesse Winchester finally succumbed to it on April 11, 2014, at home – not alone, but surrounded by the presence and love of his wife, Cindy, and his family.

He is survived by his wife, Cindy, a brother, Cassius Winchester, and a sister, Ellyn Weeks, as well as his children, James Winchester, Alice Winchester, and Marcus Lee Winchester, a stepdaughter, Jennifer Slangerup, and his grandchildren Oliver, Gus, and Luke Dungavell of Ontario, Canada, and Tave and Vann Slangerup of Charlottesville, Virginia.

– Tom Piazza, author and family friend
 

TNS Video History- Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Everly Brothers, Willie Nelson & Chet Atkins- "Good Hearted Woman"