• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Events
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • ROWFAX
  • THE SPORTS CREDENTIAL
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album/EP Releases
    • Single/Track Releases
    • Industry Events
  • OBITS
  • CHARTS
    • Radio Chart (Current)
    • Radio Chart (Archives)
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Songwriter Chart (Current)
    • Songwriter Chart (Archives)
  • REVIEWS
  • MY STORY
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Newsletter (Current)
    • SIGN UP (FREE!)
    • Newsletter (Archives)
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • STORE
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Bobby Karl Works The Columbia Studio A Re-Opening

May 12, 2014/by Bobby Karl

belmont11111

Pictured (L-R): Belmont President Bob Fisher and Brenda Lee.


Chapter 454
Thanks to the generosity of the Mike Curb Family Foundation, the students at Belmont University now have four vintage studios in which to learn the crafts of engineering and producing records.
The fourth of them, Columbia Studio A, was officially opened with a breakfast reception on Friday (May 9). It joins RCA Studio B, The Quonset Hut and Ocean Way, all of which have been previously restored by Curb.
“Our Curb College is now the largest stand-alone music-business program in the nation,” said Curb at the event. He recalled that when he was a kid in California, he marveled that so many hits could come from Studio B and the Quonset Hut, alone.
“What you did in this studio is beyond what any of us could dream,” he told the attendees, many of whom were veteran Nashville music figures. “While I’m alive, I want to see this happen again…..Thank you, thank you for building this and making it what it is. We’re just proud to be restoring it.”
belmont22222222

Striking Matches’ Justin Davis and Sarah Zimmermann.

Striking Matches – Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis – met as Belmont students. The duo began the event by singing “She’s Got You,” which Patsy Cline recorded next door in The Quonset Hut.

“Striking Matches is literally on fire,” quipped Belmont president Bob Fisher. “Their presence today reflects the aura of this place – the past, the present and the future.” He recognized Harold Bradley, who created the original facility with his brother, the late Owen Bradley, in 1955. “Today we’re celebrating,” Fisher added. “Mike Curb has been the most active person in preserving Nashville’s recording history.”
Curb is leasing the studio to Belmont for the next 40 years, which Fisher said amounts to a $10 million behest. The Belmont chief introduced several denizens of Columbia Studio A who were in the crowd. In addition to Harold Bradley, they including Lou Bradley, Ron “Snake” Reynolds, Jerry Kennedy, Bill Walker, Wayne Moss, Dickie Lee, Laing Martine Jr., acoustic designer Dave Rochester, Hoot Hester, Jim Ed Norman and Word president Rod Riley.
“There’s a story for every one of you in this room,” Fisher said.
Charlie McCoy recalled playing the harmonica intro on Roy Orbison’s “Candy Man,” which kick-started his session career. He was later invited to New York to play on Bob Dylan’s “Desolation Row.”
“That was [producer] Bob Johnston’s way of luring Bob Dylan to Nashville,” McCoy recollected. Dylan block-booked Columbia Studio A to record Blonde on Blonde, writing its songs during the sessions. He returned to record John Wesley Harding and Nashville Skyline on Music Row as well. The result: “Nashville was certified as a recording center by people who would have never come here to record,” McCoy said.

Pictured (L-R): Linda Curb, Mike Curb, Harold Bradley and Charlie McCoy. Photo courtesy of Belmont

Pictured (L-R): Linda Curb, Mike Curb, Harold Bradley and Charlie McCoy. Photo courtesy of Belmont University


Pop luminaries who have recorded in Columbia Studio A also include Leonard Cohen, The Byrds, Boz Scaggs, Simon & Garfunkel, Elvis Costello, Dan Fogelberg, REO Speedwagon and Manhattan Transfer.
“We have heroes in this town, and one of them is Mike Curb,” added McCoy. “I’m honored to be here. And I’m still playing, by the way!”
“This is a magical building for me,” said Brenda Lee. “Owen and Harold had a vision when they bought a house and built a studio. This little patch of ground where we stand was the foundation of the sound heard ‘round the world.”
“These walls can and will talk to a new generation. And for that, we can all be grateful.”
Pictured (L-R): Justin Davis, Brenda Lee, Sarah Zimmerman and Belmont's Wes Bulla.

Pictured (L-R): Justin Davis, Brenda Lee, Sarah Zimmermann and Belmont’s Wes Bulla.


Striking Matches closed the reception with another performance. “We’re surrounded by music royalty,” Davis observed. “We’re honored and humbled. If you recognize any licks we play, it’s because we stole them all from you.”
It really was an A-list crowd. Schmoozing fabulons working the room included Troy Tomlinson, Buddy Miller, Mark Ford, Debbie Linn, Pat McMaken, Ronnie Shacklett, Alan Stoker, Pete Fisher, Michael Gray, Shelby Kennedy, Jeff Balding, David Wykoff and Belmont’s James Elliott, Wes Bulla, Don Cusic, Bo Thomas and studio manager Michael Janus.
Coffee, cookies and assorted breakfast items were served.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Bobby Karl
Bobby Karl
Bobby Karl
Latest posts by Bobby Karl (see all)
  • Bobby Karl Works The Room: Eric Church Exhibit Opens At Hall Of Fame - July 13, 2023
  • Bobby Karl Works The Room: Cidny Bullens Celebrates ‘TransElectric’ Book - June 7, 2023
  • Bobby Karl Works The Room: Grammy Chapter Hosts ‘Party Of The Year’ - June 2, 2023
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/belmont33311featured.jpg 250 390 Bobby Karl https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Bobby Karl2014-05-12 09:45:172014-05-12 09:45:17Bobby Karl Works The Columbia Studio A Re-Opening
You might also like
DISClaimer Single Reviews (5/30/12)
DISClaimer: Showcasing Great Country Singers
Arrangements Set For Legendary Music Exec. Frances Preston
LAST CALL: Voting For The 2020 MusicRow Awards Ends Today
Luke Wooten Launches Warehouse West Entertainment
Marc Driskill Joins Sea Gayle
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

RECENT NEWS

  • New IRS Rule Affects Concert Ticket Resellers September 29, 2023
  • Neil Medley Shares His Stories On Debut Project, ‘South End Kid’ September 29, 2023
  • Worldwide Stages Announces Investment Opportunity In Its Production Campus September 29, 2023
  • In Pictures: Coastal Country Jam Closes Summer With Star-Studded Lineup September 29, 2023
  • First-Ever ‘People’s Choice Country Awards’ Airs Live From Nashville [Recap] September 29, 2023
  • Fifth Annual Charlie Daniels Patriot Awards Raises $400K For U.S. Military Vets September 29, 2023
  • Morgan Wallen Adds Multiple Nights In Several Markets For 2024 Tour September 29, 2023
  • Brittney Spencer Slates Debut Album ‘My Stupid Life’ For January September 29, 2023
  • Dylan Scott Earns MusicRow No. 1 With ‘Can’t Have Mine’ September 29, 2023
  • Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle Among Winners At 34th Annual IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards September 29, 2023
  • 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards Winners – Complete List September 29, 2023
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: The Late Jimmy Buffett ‘Encourages Optimism & Hope’ September 28, 2023
  • Industry Ink: Wasserman Music, Merle Travis, Equal Access, More September 28, 2023
  • Shania Twain’s Multi-Platinum ‘Greatest Hits’ Makes Vinyl Debut In November September 28, 2023
  • IBMA Honors 2023 Industry Awards Recipients September 28, 2023

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2023 Music Row Enterprises, LLC – All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Scroll to top