Gold Star Studios

This article is about the recording studio in California. For the recording studio in Houston with the same name later known as SugarHill Recording Studios, seeSugarHill Recording Studios.

Gold Star Recording Studios

Industry	Recording studio
Founded	1950(1950)
Founder	David S. Gold Stan Ross
Defunct	1984(1984)
Headquarters	6252 Santa Monica Boulevard Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Website	goldstarrecordingstudios.com

Gold Star Studioswas an independentrecording studiolocated inHollywood,California.In its entire history, Gold Star was one of the most successful commercialrecording studiosin the world.

Founded by David S. Gold and Stan Ross and opened in October 1950, Gold Star Recording Studios was located at 6252Santa Monica Boulevardnear the corner ofVine StreetinHollywood,the studio name was a combination of the names of the two owners—(Dave) GOLD and STA(n) R(oss). The studio was renowned for its unique custom-designed recording equipment, which was designed and built by Gold,and for itsecho chambers(also designed and built by Gold), which were utilised heavily by producers, most notably,Phil Spector.

Many big bands and orchestras recorded at Gold Star. Band leaderPhil Carreonand VocalistRay Vasquezrecorded at the facility in the 1950s.

Peak years

In the mid-1950s, aspiring pop star and future record producerPhil Spectorbegan hanging out at local studios, including Gold Star, hoping to learn about recording. He eventually gained the confidence of Gold Star's house producer-engineer Stan Ross, who took Spector under his wing and taught him the basics of record production. In the early 1960s, Spector used Gold Star as the venue for most of his "Wall of Sound"recordings. It was also used for many important recordings by theBeach Boys,including portions of their 1966 LPPet Sounds,the international #1 hit "Good Vibrations",and recordings for the abortedSmileproject.

The studio was known for its echo chambers. According to Gold, who designed the chambers after years of research and experimentation, they were built in an area of about 20 ft (6.1 m) × 20 ft and were complementary trapezoids 18 ft (5.5 m) long. The walls were thick, specially-formulated cement plaster on heavy isolation forms. Entry into the chambers was through a series of 2 ft (0.61 m) by 2 ft doors, and the opening was only about 20 in (51 cm) wide and high.

Gold Star was responsible for what is believed to be the first commercial use of the production technique calledflanging,which was featured on the single "The Big Hurt"byToni Fisher,written and produced by Wayne Shanklin, who also originated the flanging technique. This was done by placing his thumb on the "flange" of the recording tape reel during vocal playback, which caused the flanging effect when mixed in with the original vocal track. Another of Gold's innovations was a small transmitter that allowed him to broadcast mixes so that they could be picked up on a nearby car radio, which was especially important to recording artists in the era when AM radio was the dominant broadcast medium.

Artists

The studio was the venue for hundreds of chart-topping recordings by scores of leading pop and rock artists includingRitchie Valens,Eddie Cochran,Hugh Masekela,the Chipmunks,the Champs,the Cascades,Bobby Troup,Phil Spector,Ray Vasquez,Darlene Love,Donna Loren,Delaney Bramlett,Liza Minnelli,Brian Wilson,Sonny & Cher,Dobie Gray,Billy Strange,the Rose Garden,Merle Haggard,Modern Folk Quartet,Buffalo Springfield,the Seeds,Duane Eddy,Jimi Hendrix,Neil Young,the Ronettes,Dick Dale,the Sonics,the Righteous Brothers,Ike and Tina Turner,Jackie DeShannon,William Shatner,Iron Butterfly,Black Oak Arkansas,Joe Cocker,Leon Russell,Fairport Convention,Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass,Jan and Dean,Dr. John,Dick and Dee Dee,Joan Jett,Cherie Currie,Meat Loaf,the Champs,Gram Parsons,the Murmaids,the Rockin' Ramrods,Kim Fowley,the Sunrays,The Baja Marimba Band,the Turtles,Bobby Darin,the Cake,the Who,the Monkees,Tommy Boyce,The Band,the Go-Go's,the Ramones,Flamin' Groovies,Blondie,Dan Hartman,Gary Numan,Legs Diamond,Led Zeppelin,Herb Jeffries,the Association,Art Garfunkel,Neil Norman,Leonard Cohen,Bob Dylan,andMaurice Gibb.

It was also widely used by music, film, television, radio and Broadway artists includingFrank Loesser,Ben Weisman,Johnny Mercer,Sammy Fain,Bob Sherman,Dick ShermanandDimitri Tiomkinand it was the recording ‘home’ of the pioneeringABC-TVprime-time pop showShindig!.Donna Loren,a cast member ofShindig!,recorded there early in her career on the Crest label.Jazzartists who recorded there includeGerry Mulligan,Chet Baker,Oscar Moore,the Hi-LosandLouis Bellson.

Singer-songwriterJohnette Napolitano,co-founder ofConcrete Blonde,was the studio's receptionist in the early 1980s.

Closing

Shifting economics caused Gold Star to close its doors in 1984, as newer technology allowed bands to make their own recordings. Several months after the studios were vacated, a fire destroyed the building. A mini-mall was later constructed on the site.

On March 11, 2011, Ross died of complications following an operation to correct anabdominal aneurysm.He was 82.

External links

• Official website
• Gold Star Studiosdiscography atDiscogs
• David Gold Interview - NAMM Oral History Library (2015)