The Hits
The Songs of Studio B
Historic RCA Studio B played a major role in establishing Nashville's identity as a recording center. Dozens of country and pop stars made recordings here, primarily from 1957 to 1977, when the studio was operated by RCA Records. There are few recording studios that can claim the number of hit records that have come from Historic RCA Studio B, located in Nashville's famous Music Row area.
If you close your eyes, you can almost imagine them there: Dolly Parton arriving a bit breathlessly after a fender bender; Elvis strolling in way past midnight and making his way around the room to greet everyone; Jim Reeves recording, as always, in a sharp suit—part of the reason he is remembered as “Gentleman Jim.” And, of course, you can hear the smooth, mythical finger-picking style of Chet Atkins, the man whose vision of the studio came to life from drawings on a napkin.
You’ll understand why artists like Marty Stuart, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Wynonna, and many others have followed these legends into this magical space. Stuart first recorded here with Lester Flatt as a 13-year-old, and in 2010, Stuart’s Ghost Train (The Studio B Sessions) produced the Grammy-winning song “Hummingbyrd.” And Wynonna, Underwood, and McBride came here in 2008 to sing with the voice of Elvis on an album of Christmas duets.
A Sampling of Songs Recorded
The songs recorded inside Historic RCA Studio B, Nashville’s “Home of 1,000 Hits,” reach across decades and emotions, from traditionalists to trailblazers. Don Gibson captured “Oh Lonesome Me” at Studio B in 1957, the studio’s opening year. Dolly Parton’s heartrending “I Will Always Love You” was made at B in 1973.
The threads that run through all the music recorded inside Historic RCA Studio B’s walls: raw talent, inspiration, and a determination to capture both as accurately and artfully as anyone ever has.
Explore some of those songs in the playlist included here.
The Artists
Historic RCA Studio B played a major role in establishing Nashville's identity as a recording center. Dozens of country and pop stars made recordings here, primarily from 1957 to 1977, when the studio was operated by RCA Records. There are few recording studios that can claim the number of hit records that have come from Historic RCA Studio B, located in Nashville's famous Music Row area.
