Owen Bradley
William Owen Bradley (October 21, 1915[1] – January 7, 1998)[2] was an American musician, bandleader and record producer who, along with Chet Atkins, Bob Ferguson, Bill Porter, and Don Law, was a chief architect of the 1950s and 60s Nashville sound in country music and rockabilly.[3]
Owen Bradley
William Owen Bradley
October 21, 1915
Westmoreland, Tennessee, U.S.
January 7, 1998 (aged 82)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
- Musician
- record producer
- recording studio founder
- songwriter
- radio director
- radio and TV producer
- arranger
Piano
1935–1980
Bradley, originally from Westmoreland, Tennessee, started with piano at a young age, and performed in local nightclubs and roadhouses as a teenager. Bradley's early career took a decisive turn when he joined WSM (AM) radio at 20, as an arranger and musician. By 1942, he had become the station's musical director, and led a dance band that enjoyed popularity in local society circles.
In 1947, Bradley transitioned to Decca Records, working under (Paul Cohen and succeeding him as vice president of Decca's Nashville division in 1958. This period marked the beginning of the Nashville sound, a movement that aimed to broaden country music's appeal by incorporating pop elements. The Quonset Hut Studio, owned by Bradley, became a focal point for this new sound, contributing significantly to Nashville's reputation as a recording industry center. Bradley's work extended to producing records for artists like Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, playing a key role in their career successes. He attempted to update the sounds of older country artists to fit the evolving musical landscape. Despite his achievements, not all transformations Bradley pursued were equally successful across artists.
After selling the Quonset Hut Studio, Bradley established Bradley's Barn, a new studio that continued to attract a range of recording artists until it burned down in 1980. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1974, reflecting his impact on the industry. Bradley's later years saw him working on selected projects, including k.d. lang's "Shadowland" album.
Bradley's contributions have been recognized with various honors, including the dedication of a public park and a bronze likeness in Nashville. His legacy in the music industry is marked by his role in shaping the Nashville sound and influence on several generations of musicians.
Before the fame[edit]
A native of Westmoreland, Tennessee, United States,[1] Bradley learned piano at an early age, and began playing in local nightclubs and roadhouses when he was a teenager. At 20, he got a job at WSM-AM radio, where he worked as an arranger and musician.[1] In 1942, he became the station's musical director, and was also the leader of a sought-after dance band, joined later by vocalists Bob Johnstone and Dottie Dillard, that played well-heeled society parties all over the city. That same year he co-wrote Roy Acuff's hit "Night Train to Memphis". He kept the band up until 1964, although in the intervening decades, his work as a producer would far overshadow his own performing career.[4]
In 1947, Bradley took a position as a music arranger and songwriter at Decca Records.[1] He worked for Paul Cohen on Castle Studio recording sessions by some of the biggest talents of the day, including Ernest Tubb, Burl Ives, Red Foley and Kitty Wells.[1] Learning from Cohen, he eventually began to produce records on his own. When his mentor left the label in 1958, Bradley became vice president of Decca's Nashville division,[5] and began pioneering what would become the "Nashville sound".
Bradley's Barn studio[edit]
Bradley sold The Quonset Hut Studio to Columbia Records (which today is a division of Sony Music Entertainment) and bought a farm outside of Nashville (Mt. Juliet, Tennessee) in 1961, converting a barn into a demo studio.[1] Within a few years, the new "Bradley's Barn" became a popular recording venue in country music circles.[1] The Beau Brummels paid tribute to the studio, through titling their 1968 album Bradley's Barn.[1] The studio burned to the ground in 1980, but Bradley rebuilt it within a few years in the same location.