The Legend

Cherokee Studios was one of the most significant Hollywood recording studios with over 300 Platinum and Gold albums recorded by artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, David Bowie, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis.

“It was unbelievable,” says Bruce Robb of Cherokee, “You could wake up at 3 in the morning, go into Cherokee and it was like the biggest, most exciting nightclub in town. It was around the clock, with the most insane things going on in the rooms. We'd have Barry Manilow in one room, Kiss in another room and Frank Sinatra in another room. And Bob Crewe was just crankin' with disco. There were two sessions a day in each room; one would stop at 8 p.m., the next would start at 9 and go to the next morning. At one point, Joe and I were doing Sinatra, and Dee was doing [David] Bowie. Bowie would stroll into our session and invite Sinatra back into his session. We'd have Jeff Beck in doing Wired, and he'd go up to a Rod Stewart session — ‘Lemme play a solo on this track.’ There was a lot of that then; nowadays, it's a little more closed off, more driven toward the market and the brand of the group. It was more about music than marketing back then, and the artists were still leading the trends. We catered to the artist rather than the label, because those are the guys who made the records. And you know what? That's still the way we feel.”

The legacy is Elton John feeling the vibe and sitting at the piano in Studio One to write music. It is Elvis, Sinatra, Fitzgerald. It is Bob Seger recording Hollywood Nights with two different drum sets. It is warm summer nights on the roof of Cherokee Studios with the Robbs at the “Shanghai Bar and Grill”. It is Belushi living in the studio and sleeping on the floor. The legacy is the collection of stories, experiences, and creativity that make the soul of this place worth preserving.

History

In his autobiography, The Beatles producer George Martin called Cherokee Studios the best studio in America.

Cherokee Studios moved to 751 N. Fairfax in 1975 after purchasing the building from MGM Records. Originally built as Frank Sinatra’s string room, Studio One quickly became one of the most sought after large tracking rooms in existence. This special space in combination with Cherokee founder’s vision to create a recording studio built by recording artists for recording artists resulted in an atmosphere that was not replicated anywhere. Artists referred to this atmosphere as “the Vibe”. Those craving a balance of the vibe and the technical and acoustic conditions to make great music, found Cherokee to be their favored destination.

Before moving to the famous site on Fairfax, Cherokee Studios was founded by the Robb brothers in a converted barn on a ranch in Chatsworth. The brothers, successful 60’s folk rock musicians known as The Robbs, had set up the ranch as their rehearsal space. As word got out about their set up, it quickly became the place for recording artists to escape the stuffy corporate labels in favor of an environment that cultivated creativity. Now as producers and engineers, the powerful combination of the Robb brother’s commitment to the artist attracted top talent. Little Richard, Del Shannon, and Rick Nelson were soon clients and Bob Crewe produced the first Disco record at the studio. Before Cherokee was ready to take over Studio One on Fairfax, they had already cut Steely Dan’s Pretzel Logic that went gold.

The studio soon outgrew its location and in 1975 they purchased Studio One from MGM. “The vibe” created by the Robb’s enthusiasm for the creative process and the acoustics designed by world famous acoustician, George Augspurger, ensured that the success continued. Overall, Cherokee Studios produced over 300 gold and platinum albums on site and an untold number of amazing stories and experiences. We expect they won’t be the last.

The Legacy in Design

Dynamic Façade. The dynamic façade emulates the inherent dynamic nature of the music created at Cherokee Studios by being in a constant state of change. The morphing skin of the building is an outward manifestation of the creativity of its residents.

Studio One’s Black Forest Wood. Materials from the recording studio are reused throughout the new building including the dark wood paneling from Germany’s Black Forest that completed Frank Sinatra’s Studio One.

History. The building entrance, signage, walkway and doors reflect the past of Cherokee Studios. Gold and platinum records, memorabilia, and reminders of the artists that recorded at Cherokee are integrated in the lobby design.

Dedicated Music Production Studio Suites. In the new Cherokee Studios the premium and music units will include home recording or editing studios designed masterfully by Cherokee Studio’s founders for music or film making.