Norman Petty Recording Studio-Nashville To Open

Norman Petty Recording Studio-Nashville will soon open in Music City. An open house has been set for Nov. 2 (12 noon— 7 p.m.) at 16 Ton Studio (located at 1008 16th Ave. S.) to introduce the new studio to industry members.

For nearly two years, 16 Ton Studio’s Danny White has been working with Ken Broad and Lyle Walker of the Norman Petty Estate to bring the vintage-inspired studio to Nashville.

Norman Petty’s New Mexico studio facilitated the creation of 1950’s music by artists including Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison and others. The new room in Nashville will be primarily based on the equipment of Norman Petty but will also house standout pieces from Nashville’s iconic RCA Studio B. Specifically, the custom-built, Chet Atkins-ordered, API console and monitors installed in the mix room at Studio B and used on records by artists ranging from Waylon Jennings to Elvis Presley.

Walker, representative of the estate, says: “For a long time, Ken and I have wanted to put together a vintage recording studio,” Walker says. “We thought the idea of putting a significant selection of recording equipment and microphones that Norman used to cut all those rock n’ roll classics with Buddy Holly and others would be a great tribute. Nashville was the natural fit considering Norman’s influence on the city and 16 Ton was the right place to put the room.”

The new Petty room (Studio 2) will be an attractive addition to the 16 Ton facility, while Studio 1, which houses a one-off tube based Dymaxion console will not be changed.

16 Ton is going into its 10th year on Music Row. Artists to record in the facility in the past couple of years include Sheryl Crow, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Eddie Kramer and Will Hoge.