From Country and Rock-and-Roll to Gospel, the RCA Studio B has heard it all over the years. The Radio Corporation of America, RCA, began renting Studio B in 1957 as an addition to their other studios in Chicago and Hollywood. RCA Studio B’s location in Nashville helped the company become a major player in the city’s growing music industry.

After RCA began renting a larger studio space, the company installed updated equipment into Studio B. The original studio received new mixing boards and improved consoles for better sound quality. As a result of these upgrades, many artists benefitted from the quality of records produced at Studio B between 1957 and 1977. Between those years, Studio B booked over 35,000 recording sessions, producing several hits by artists such as Stephen Henry "Steve" Sholes, Chester Burton "Chet" Atkins, Don Gibson, the Browns, Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, and the Everly Brothers. Through the Presley and RCA collaboration, rock & roll became a powerful sensation that swept through Nashville.

Script written by Michelle Richoll.

Credits and Sources:

“National Register of Historic Places Program: RCA Studio B, Davidson County, Tennessee,” accessed April 8, 2015, http://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/weekly_features/12_07_20_RCA_Studio_B.htm.

“National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: RCA Studio B,” last modified May 25, 2012, http://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/weekly_features/2012/RCA_Studio_B.pdf.