Posted by Larry Jordan on October 7, 2014, 1:29 pm
The first time I met Mary Reeves, when I was 15 years old, I went down to Nashville with a group of YWCA ladies on a Greyhound bus, riding 650 miles to Music City. Mary picked me up in Jim's Cadillac.
One of the places she took me to was RCA's Studio A -- the building for which the groundbreaking was held on Friday, July 31, 1964. Jim had accepted an invitation to speak at the ceremony, believing he would be the only artist to do so. However, he then learned other of his peers had been invited to speak, plus he wasn't all that keen about rubbing elbows with the RCA bigshots who were coming down from New York, because he was still mad at them over their 5 month stand-off over contract negotiations (albeit they had been resolved).
So Jim decided to fly to Arkansas instead of attending the RCA ceremony.
After the building was built (and Mary maintained a 2 room suite there), scores of artists recorded many hit records in Studio A. It was a much larger facility than the studio in which Jim Reeves recorded his songs. which was located next door.
While Studio B is still available for tours through the Country Music Hall of Fame, the adjacent building has been used for other purposes.
In recent years, the heirs of Chet Atkins and Owen Bradley, who owned the building, decided to cash in their chips and sell it, even if it meant a vital piece of Nashville's history would be torn down.
The preservationists have argued that to lose this important facility would be unthinkable, but it looked like the wrecking crew would be showing up any day.
At the 11th hour, an area businessman stepped in and rescued RCA Studio A. Those of us who have been active in promoting its preservation salute Aubrey Preston.
I cannot begin to tell you how important this is.
So I recommend you read a fine article about this matter by clicking the link below.
It's a blessing that those with the financial capability to own and preserve these historical landmarks are, in fact, doing so.
During the Studio B tour, our guide, Ron, explained how Studio B is actually owned by Mike Curb and that Mr. Curb leases it to The Country Music Hall of Fame for $1 a year.
Hats off to Mr. Preston for stepping up to save Studio A. Let's hope he, too, makes it possible for the public to access and appreciate the history of Studio A.