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PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Clyne Media
Tel: (615) 662-1616
Fax: (615) 662-1636FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
19th ANNUAL GRAMMY® SOUNDTABLE AT AES CONVENTION HONORS A NEW YORK STUDIO INSTITUTION
AND THE PEOPLE WHO MADE IT GREAT"Good Times: The Enduring Legacy of NY's Power Station Studios" Brings Together
Industry Veterans for a Panel Discussion Illuminating the Creation of Dozens of
Classic Recordings by Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, and MoreSANTA MONICA, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2007) — On Saturday, October 6, as part of the 123rd AES Convention at New York’s Javits Center, The Recording Academy® Producers & Engineers Wing presented the 19th Annual GRAMMY® SoundTable. Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the facility now known as Avatar Studios, the two-hour event, titled "Good Times: The Enduring Legacy of NY's Power Station Studios," commemorated the studio’s formative years and the collection of voluminous talent that made history there.
The panel, moderated by Zoe Thrall, former vice president of studio operations at Power Station and current studio director at the Palms Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, was truly an all-star lineup. It was comprised of Power Station designer and producer Tony Bongiovi (The Ramones, Talking Heads), Bob Clearmountain (Bryan Adams, Roxy Music), Jason Corsaro (Power Station, Madonna), Neil Dorfsman (Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan), James Farber (Mick Jagger, Michael Brecker), and Nile Rodgers (Chic, David Bowie).
"The wealth of talent — artists, engineers, producers and industry legends — that passed through Power Station over the course of two decades is nothing short of amazing," said Maureen Droney, Executive Director of the P&E Wing. “It was without a doubt one of the highlights of the AES show this year to be able to bring together so much of the talent that helped build the Power Station legacy. The panel was not only inspiring, it was also a reminder of how a certain scene and sound can positively affect the recording industry."
The studio's luminous history — it won five TEC Awards from 1985 – 1990 in the Best Recording Studio category and a Les Paul Award for Special Lifetime Achievement in 1991 — was recalled. Conceived by Bongiovi as a production facility in the tradition of the Motown Sound of the '60s, Power Station studios were carved out of an abandoned Consolidated Edison (Con Ed) power station. A creative magnet, the mercurial and brilliant Bongiovi drew a core of talent to the facility that would produce some of the most amazing recordings ever made. When Thrall asked why Power Station had the impact it did for nearly two decades, the panel recounted technical details and session stories, and played choice tracks to help define this phenomenon for the audience. Neil Dorfsman described how the studio's distinctive reverberation was fundamental to Bruce Springsteen's "Hungry Heart," which he mixed with Bob Clearmountain at Power Station.
"The hallmark sound of Studio A was that real big drum sound," said Neil Dorfsman. "I remember everyone saying during playback in the control room, 'Turn up the room, turn up the room,' — sometimes to ridiculous proportions!" The panel also played Roxy Music's "Avalon" and The Blessing’s "Prince of the Deep Water" as examples of how they used the stairwell and basement bathroom as echo chambers.
Jason Corsaro, who started at Power Station as an assistant engineer, remembered, "There was nothing like being able to mingle with the musicianship and engineering talent that came through there — it was incredible, it was inspiring." Nile Rodgers added, "We all felt like we were part of something big. We all felt like if we were all making records, and had success, then the whole place would be successful."
Photo File: PE_AESPowerstation.JPG
Photo Caption: The Producer & Engineer's Wing of The Recording Academy® presented the 19th Annual GRAMMY® SoundTable at AES entitled "Good Times: The Enduring Legacy of Power Station Studios," a gathering of influential players from the studio's past. Shown from L–R seated: Neil Dorfsman, Bob Clearmountain and Tony Bongiovi. Standing L-R: Jason Corsaro, Nile Rodgers, educator/AES Chairman Jim Anderson, P&E Wing Executive Director Maureen Droney, James Farber and Zoe Thrall.Courtesy of The Recording Academy®/Wireimage.com © 2007
Photographed by: Gary Gershoff
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY® Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. In its 50th year, The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.
Currently, 6,000 professionals comprise the Producers & Engineers Wing, which was established for producers, engineers, remixers, manufacturers, technologists, and other related creative and technical professionals in the recording community. This organized voice for the recording community addresses issues that affect the craft of recorded music, while ensuring its role in the development of new technologies, recording and mastering recommendations, and archiving and preservation initiatives. For more information, please visit www.producersandengineers.com.
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Jennifer Keppel/The Recording Academy/310.392.3777
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