Royal Studios

Royal Studios is a recording studio located in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Established in 1956, it is one of the oldest continuously operated music recording studios in the world.

Royal Studios
IndustryRecording Studio
FoundedMemphis, Tennessee
1956
HeadquartersMemphis, Tennessee, United States
Key people
Willie Mitchell (Owner)
Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell (Owner)
WebsiteWilliemitchell.com

It is widely known for producer, recording artist and owner, Willie Mitchell, and notable productions of Al Green, Chuck Berry, John Mayer, Buddy Guy, My Morning Jacket, Robert Cray, De La Soul, Otis Rush, Keith Richards, Solomon Burke, The Bo-Keys, Bobby Blue Bland, Ann Peebles, Ike & Tina Turner, Tom Jones, Anthony Hamilton, Rod Stewart, Paul Rodgers, Cody Chesnutt, Sam Moore as well as the Barnyard and Soul Men soundtracks.[1][2][3]

The studio is operated by the family of Willie Mitchell with son Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell serving as manager/engineer, son Archie Mitchell serving as an engineer and daughter Oona Mitchell serving as administrator.[4]

Establishment

Royal Studios was founded in 1956 in Memphis, Tennessee, as the operating studio of Hi Records.[5]

The original structure was used as a movie theatre, with Shamrock Theatre opening at the location in 1915. Early theatres of this type showed silent movies and were called nickelodeon theatres because of their nickel admission. The Rex Theatre, a previously open-air theatre, took over the location and replaced the Shamrock Theatre. It was converted to sound in the early 1920s and renamed as Royal Theatre.[6][7][8]

Royal Theatre remained a neighborhood theatre until it closed in 1955.[7][8]

In 1956 the theatre was rented by Hi Records’ President Joe Cuoghi, his partners Quinton Claunch and John Novarese as well as three silent partners including Cuoghi's lawyer, Nick Pesce. Hi Records converted the theatre into Royal Recording Studios and opened the doors in 1956.[5]

History

Soon after its establishment in 1956, Royal Studios became known as the “House of Instrumentals”. This name was due to its production of instrumentals hits including Bill Black Combo's “Smokie Part 2”, “Josephine”, “White Silver Sands” and “Don’t Be Cruel” with each selling over a million copies.[5]

In the early 1960s, Hi Records hired Willie Mitchell as a recording artist and producer. His involvement with Royal Studios steadily evolved over the 1960s.[5]

Hi Records founding president, Joe Cuoghi, died in 1970 and the Hi Records label had to restructure. Attorney Nick Pesce became President and Willie Mitchell was promoted to Vice President. The Royal Studios facility came under the direction of Willie Mitchell and was renamed Mitchell's Royal Sound Studio.[9]

In 1968, Willie Mitchell met Al Green and offered him a record deal. Willie Mitchell and Al Green began producing and co-writing an album titled “Green Is Blues” – Al Green’s first album released on Hi Records. After this start, Willie Mitchell and Al Green collaborated on seven consecutive gold singles starting in 1970. Al Green sold over 20 million records during his career with Hi Records. For the purpose of perspective and comparison to a similar label, this was more than the combined album sales of Stax Records top recording artists Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, and Booker T. & the M.G.'s during their entire careers.[10][11]

Other notable artists with albums produced at Royal Studios during this time include Bobby Blue Bland, Chuck Berry, Ike & Tina Turner, Otis Clay, Ann Peebles, Rod Stewart, and Syl Johnson.[2]

Reaching its commercial peak in the early to mid-1970s, Hi Records declined during the late 70s as a result of soul music being replaced by disco.[5] Despite the decline of Hi Records, Royal Studios remained continuously in production of consistent hits from the 1957s through the present.[9]

Present

Operation and facilities

Royal Studios is in operation at the original location under the management of Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell, one of the sons of Willie Mitchell. His credit roster includes independent artists and notable acts such as Anthony Hamilton, Rod Stewart, Al Green, Cody Chesnutt and 8 Ball.[4][12] Royal Studios features two vintage MCI recording consoles along with other rare equipment including two original Pultec EQs, Universal Audio LA2As and LA3As.[13]

Vintage tape machine collection

Royal Studios remains in possession of one of the widest collections of studio grade vintage reel-to-reel tape machines. Several of the tape machines are unique and customized. The collection includes a uniquely modified 8-channel Ampex 351 with tube circuits replacing the entire transistor circuitry, a standard Ampex 351, Studer B 67, Sony APR-5000, MCI JH24 and MCI JH16.[13]

Notable recordings

Royal Studios has served a variety of artists during its operation. The list below is of notable albums which feature recordings from Royal Studios. These albums went Platinum, Gold or won a Grammy or other significant recognition.

[1][2][3][4][10][12][14][14]

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References
  1. "Willie Mitchell: Memphis-based producer, arranger and songwriter for Al Green, Ann Peebles and Wet Wet Wet". The Independent. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  2. "Hi Records - CDs and Vinyl". Discogs.com. 2016-01-06. Retrieved 2016-01-10.
  3. "Hi Records Album Discography". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2011-10-15. Retrieved 2017-07-12.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  4. "THE PULSE » Blog Archive » Chatting With Boo Mitchell: Owner of Royal Studios in Memphis". Web.archive.org. 2010-03-31. Archived from the original on 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2017-07-12.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  5. Hazen, Cindy and Freeman, Mike. Memphis Elvis-Style. Winston-Salem: John F. Blair, Publisher. 1997. ISBN 978-0-89587-173-2
  6. Bowers, David. Nickelodeon Theatres and Their Music. New York: The Vestal Press. 1988.
  7. Memphis City Directory. 1915, 1927, 1956, 1957
  8. Andria Lisle. "'Everything's coming full circle' as Willie Mitchell's sons carry on his Memphis music legacy". Commercialappeal.com. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  9. Hoffmann, Frank W. Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound, Volume 1, p. 491. New York: Routledge. 2004. ISBN 0-415-93835-X
  10. Guralnick, Peter. Sweet Soul Music. New York: Harper and Row., 1986.
  11. Parles, Jon and Romanowski, Patricia, ed. The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. New York: Rolling Stone Press/Summit Books., 1983.
  12. "FISHEYE MUSIC - The professional music production network for recording, mixing and mastering". Fisheye-music.com. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  13. "Flipside Memphis - Royal Studios". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
  14. "Willie Mitchell Legendary Producer at Hi Records & Royal Studio, Memphis Passes Away". Offbeat Magazine. Retrieved 2017-07-12.
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