RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee

posted by Stacie on July 30, 2015 // 13 Comments »

RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee

Built in 1957, RCA Studio B is known as the “Home of 1,000 Hits.” Dan Maddox constructed the studio at the request of Chet Atkins and Steve Sholes to assist RCA Victor and other record labels in Nashville. Legend holds that recording manager and RCA chief engineer Bill Miltenberg drew the plans for the historic studio on the back of a napkin. Two years later, the studio mixed “The Three Bells,” a number one hit by The Browns. We hope that you love our visit to RCA Studio B in Nashville Tennessee.

The studio would go on to produce 40 million-selling singles and over 200 individual recordings by Elvis Presley. When a new larger recording facility was constructed on 17th Avenue in 1964, it was designated as Studio A, and the original was renamed RCA Studio B.

In 1959, Sound Engineer Bill Porter felt the studio’s original acoustics created an uneven frequency response. Spending $60 from petty cash, he purchased fiberglass acoustic tiles, cut them into triangles and hung them from the ceiling at various heights. They were nicknamed “Porter Pyramids.” The engineer also placed marks on the floor where he wanted the various performers to stand.

The process of overcoming the acoustical problems inside the studio created a sophisticated musical style that became known as the Nashville Sound. Popular in the 1960s, it was characterized by its background vocals and string accompaniments. The style helped to rejuvenate the country music industry and made Nashville Tennessee a hub for the recording industry.

Of the more than 35,000 songs recorded inside the studio, over 1,000 went on to become certified hits. These include Elvis Presley’s “Are You Lonesome Tonight.”, “I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton and “Kiss an Angel Good Morning” by Charlie Pride. Other well-known artists who recorded here include Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison and The Everly Brothers as well as Wynonna, Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood.

This well-known Nashville Tennessee landmark is the birthplace of numerous recording innovations including a unique musical shorthand system. The system enables musicians to quickly note a song’s particular chord structure and then create individual parts that still maintain the overall integrity of the piece. Located at 222 5th Avenue South, RCA Studio B was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.

The studio was donated to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992. Guided tours sponsored by the hall offer a glimpse into the history of the recording industry during one of Music City’s most exciting and classic periods. The studio is also used as a classroom by local area high school and college students studying sound recording. Make certain to plan your visit to RCA Studio B in Nashville Tennessee today.

We were hosted on the Adventures by Disney Nashville Long Weekend trip. This is one post in a series of posts. For further details and more information on specific places we visited, please see: