Yesterday was a great day here at 16 Ton Studios Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Not only was it a beautiful afternoon it was even better when the sun flashed off of the perfect, ebony patina of an incredible Steinway Grand as it was rolled out of the back of a very, very secure moving truck.

Documented by non-other than Mr. John H. Steinway himself back in 1978, we are the proud new custodian of one of the best Steinway A 7-foot Grand Piano’s in the country.

It was a moving experience to sit behind this magnificent instrument and block a few chords out once the movers had gone on their way. To say it was a humbling experience to think about the graceful hands and talented pianists that have sat behind her, making wonderful music for over 130 years would be an understatement. This particular piano has a great history in the music business, having been employed to lay down piano tracks on multiple Grammy winning records for decades.

For those fans of our Kohler & Campbell Grand (I count myself as one of those) have no fear! We’ve decided to keep the K&C and move it to the lounge. It sounds fantastic out there by the way for those of you familiar with the footprint of this studio. And of course, two-grand is always better than one!!

Thanks for reading this blog and the next time you’re on Music Row in Nashville, stop by and say hello. We would love to hear about your next project. From everyone at 16 ton Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee…have a great Labor Day!

Until next time….keep livin’ life on the high notes!

Danny White

More to come on this in the very near future but just a bit for now. Everybody here at 16 Ton Recording Studios in Nashville, including myself, is fired up about the installation of a new CLASP system! 16 Ton is the first commercial Nashville studio to have one of these permanently installed. CLASP (Closed Loop Analog Signal Processor) is the latest development in analog recording with a ground-breaking approach to how an analog tape recorder interfaces with Pro Tools or Nuendo. More coming on this as we rack up sessions with CLASP, the new Pro Tools HD9 rig and our AMPEX 2″ 16-Track machine from 1969! Our AMPEX was originally installed in Nashville’s famed Columbia Studios (Studio A) on Music Row…so plenty of mojo going on inside that machine!
For more information on CLASP, please visit www.endlessanalog.com Call 615.482.5435 for a visit to 16 Ton Recording Studios in Nashville to talk about your next project. We’re looking forward to seeing you! Danny

Paul McDonald and The Grand Magnolias with Ken Coomer producing at Sixteen Ton in Nashville

Paul McDonald (American Idol Top Ten Contestant Season 10) and The Grand Magnolias rocking out their latest album at Sixteen Ton Recording Studios in Nashville Tennessee.

Ken Coomer, formerly of Wilco, and producer of many (Chetes, Steve Earle, Tim Finn, Will Hoge, Jars of Clay, Emmylou Harris, Shaver…) produced the record here in January 2011.  Patrick Miller engineered the amazing project.

The Grand Magnolias - Paul McDonald (Season 10 American Idol Top Ten Contestant)

The self titled album is a Billboard Heatseeker at #16 on the charts and has sold over 5000 copies so far. This record is sure to top the charts so be sure and keep an eye out for these guys! We are proud to work with them and looking forward to the next projects.  And good luck to Paul McDonald, the NEXT American Idol!

Hey there all, 16 Ton back for another tour of the recording world through our eyes and ears! Well, there’s been a lot going on in Nashville lately, as is usually the case, but a few things have happened around our world recently we felt we ought to share with you all. First, Johnny Henry, a fantastic country singer/songwriter hailing from St. Louis, is in the studio right now cutting a 5 song EP. This record is an incredible batch of country tunes, another top-notch project helmed by the wildly talented producer and 16 Ton regular, Scotty Huff. Scotty has brought a multi-faceted group of musicians together for Johnny’s project which employs everything from familiar country instruments like guitar, fiddle, drums and bass, to 4-piece string chamber orchestra, dobro and mandolin. The results have been pretty amazing so far, and are providing the perfect back-drop for Johnny’s warm, soulful voice being tracked at this very moment! It’s been another great 16 Ton production to this point, and we are all really excited to hear the finished product! You can check out Johnny Henry at myspace.com/johnnyhenrymusic and www.digitalrodeo.com/johnnyhenryand stay tuned for the release date of his new EP coming soon!

Next we wanted to mention that Kink Ador, the 3 piece band (that’s right there’s only 3 up there) produced by Mike Esser, gave an absolutely stellar performance at 8 off 8th the other night at the Mercy Lounge. This band is like nothing else you’ve heard before, and their indelible mixture of primal beats, blazing guitar hooks and other-worldly vocals mesmerized the crowd with their 3 song set. One cool remembrance among the many of the evening was lead singer Sharon’s seamless transition from trumpet to bass mid-song right before beginning the 3rd verse in the song ‘Barbarian’. You can check this great band out at www.kinkador.com

And finally, Mr Tim Elliott and The Wheels have the finished masters of the 16 Ton produced Rock album ‘Volume 10′ ready for release, and we are all pretty much blown away by the results! This album is exploding with gritty, powerful, straight-up Rock N Roll! It’s laden with incredible contributions from friends of the studio, who also happen to be some of the best musicians in the world! You’ll have to check out the album to see who they are, but some are names you already know, while others are names you soon will, including Tim himself. Tim wrote all the music, played guitar, and poured out his soul-blasting vocals at level 10 throughout the record, which may just be one of the reasons it’s titled ‘Volume 10′, we’re not sure! You will find this amazing Rock record in stores soon, or on their coming soon website at www.timelliottandthewheels.com coming 2/14/10. Thanks for checking in with us again, and as always, stay tuned to 16ton.com to hear the latest from the heart of the Nashville recording world!

Hello there, its  another beautiful day of Nashville recording here at 16 Ton Studios! Well folks, in our last blog the nice weather that has recently given a warm brush to our fair city was mentioned; a fitting segway to today’s blog as the warm sunny glow of Howard Livingston and Mile Marker 24 have arrived again here at 16 Ton Studios from the Florida Keys to do another awesome TropRock album! And since we’re digging back into our blog catalogue, you may also remember reading about Howard in a previous post  as his last album ‘I’m Living On An Island’ won several awards at the TropRock Music awards including: Song of the Year (I’m Living On An Island), Album of the Year (I’m Living On An Island), Band of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year!! We are so excited to have Howard and his band back at 16 Ton for their 5th album with us, and this session is turning into another stellar TropRock record! The songs are amazing and sure to put a smile on your face, a warm glow in your day, and maybe even a nice Rum drink in your hand! Today we finished cutting the percussion tracks which include marimba, steel drum, and conga (among other additions) and are layering beautifully over the acoustic guitar, electric, bass, and drum tracks. Tomorrow comes horns, B3 Hammond organ, and background vocals, all laying a perfect bedding for Howard’s rich, soothing voice. All-in-all it has been a great week so far with more to come, and we couldn’t be happier with the results! We predict the TropRock Awards may be asking Howard and Mile Marker 24 back again next year! If you want to find out where you can get some of this great music from Howard Livingston and Mile Marker 24, or find out tour dates and more, you can find them at milemarker24.com. So check out their website today! And if you’re in Nashville, you might want to drive by 16 Ton on 16th Ave on Music Row to check out the sign out front congratulating Mr. Livingston and Mile Marker 24 for their incredible achievements at the TropRock Awards! And as always, stay tuned to our blog here at 16ton.com to find out about the next great session happening right here at 16 Ton Recording Studios!

Hello again friends! Another great day of music at 16 Ton Studios in beautiful Nashville, Tennessee! The weather has warmed from our brief jolt of winter to a lovely (for January) 50 degrees here in Nashville, and the streets of downtown Broadway are again fresh-filled to the brim with music seekers, all looking to get a piece of the historic district and it’s musical legends imprinted in their eyes and ears. The halls of 16 Ton Studios are warmed as well, basking in the gorgeous 4-voiced harmonies of ‘The Bridges’! This amazingly talented young band is back in our studio once again, working on 4 more tunes to add to their already impressive repertoire, and we couldn’t be more excited to have them here! If you aren’t already familiar with this incredible group, you can find out more about them by following them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/thebridges, or listen to them at http://www.myspace.com/thebridges. Trust us, it’s worth your time! It’s been an exciting start to the new year, and with so many fantastic musicians coming in and out of the studio doors, make sure you keep up with us at our blog at 16ton.com and stay in the loop with your favorite recording studio!

Hey there, everyone! The folks at 16 Ton are back again with another update on the Nashville recording scene! We here at 16 Ton Studios are very excited to have the beautiful and talented Sarah McClurg back in the studio, finishing up her debut album! Sarah is a hot new country singer, fresh on the Country scene, and we here at 16 Ton have brought together some of the best musicians Nashville (and the world for that matter) has to offer to back up her gorgeous voice for this stellar country album! Hailing from Ottawa, Canada, Sarah has already made a splash on the air waves with her first 3 cuts, and will be the featured artist on the ‘Artist Spotlight’ for Canada’s television program, Rogers Television, on February 17th! She will be interviewed and playing live from her new double album, in which songs will be cut in both English and French. We here at 16 Ton couldn’t be happier about her success and expect much more to come! You can follow Sarah’s rise by visiting her on Facebook, hear teaser tracks at myspace.com/sarahmcclurg, and at sarahmcclurg.com. Don’t miss out on this amazing young talent, and be sure and keep checking us out here at 16ton.com for updates on everything musical in the world of Nashville recording!

Hello, all! Your friends at 16 Ton Recording Studios here, back in action in the New Year!  Kink Ador is in the studio right now laying down some incredible Rock n Roll! If you aren’t yet familiar with Kink Ador, you probably soon will be.  They are one of the most dynamic, creative, purely visceral rock bands on the Nashville scene (and beyond) right now.  Their songs are filled with laser-sharp guitar tones shredding catchy licks, tribally-fused energetic pop-rock rhythms, and funky/sweet bass lines, all encompassing the charismatic female lead vocalist who could bleed souls with her vocal tone! And their live shows are NOT to be missed! 16 Ton’s Mike Esser has collaborated with this hot band for many projects, and we are always excited to have them around!  You can check them out for yourselves at kinkador.com, or buy their albums on itunes, including their  latest EP ‘I Am Animal’.  Kink Ador is another prime example of the many fantastic bands who choose 16 Ton Recording Studios to deliver their musical vision.  Stay tuned to hear the latest on the Nashville recording scene via 16ton.com, and as always keep in touch!

Pianist extraordinaire, Phil Vassar, stopped by 16 Ton Studios to work on the music for the Broadway musicial, ‘Waitress’ just before the new year.

The well known  songwriter has a string of country music hits a mile long. The writer of “My Next Thirty Years,” “The Last Day of My Life,” “That’s When I Love You,” and “Just Another Day in Paradise,”  is writing and composing the musical score for the soon to be Broadway adaptation of the movie, ‘Waitress’ from 2007.

Mr. Vassar, well known for his energetic stadium performances is taking a new musical direction with his score for ‘Waitress.’ Like his  peers Elton John, Dolly Parton, and the great Roger Miller, Mr. Vassar has his eyes set on New York’s famed Broadway for the first time and enjoying every minute of it.

I had a great conversation with Mr. Vasser last week after the session, and was blown away by the quality of the material. Keep your eyes and ears open for the new musical…you will not be disappointed with the music that this great talent will bring to the table. There is no word on when the new musical will premiere, however, you can get your Phil Vassar fix with his new release, ‘Traveling Circus,’ on Universal South Records. So, head down to your nearest music store and give it a spin…it’s fantastic! Danny White      16tonstudios@gmail.com

Hello from your friends at 16 Ton, your favorite recording studio. It’s been a phenomenal year for music here at 16 Ton and we just want to thank everyone for making this year such a great one! There have been award winners, rock stars, country legends, and some of the best musicians on the planet in and out of our doors making incredible music, and we couldn’t have asked for a better year! As we watch this decade come to its conclusion, with so many enormous changes in our industry, one thing remains the same: people love great music! And that’s why all of us here at 16 Ton Recording Studios are so excited about the next decade in music. We know that, no matter what happens, people appreciate great artistry, amazing mixes, and music that just sounds fantastic! And that’s what they get, time after time, when they record here at 16 Ton. We also know that we couldn’t have had so much success without all of the great session players and fantastic artists who have made their way into the halls of 16 Ton, and we thank all of you for choosing us as your vehicle to great sounding music! So, from all of us at 16 Ton to all of our friends and family, past, present, and future, have a Happy New Year!!! We will see you in the new decade!