Bates Brothers Recording Studio

The Bates Brothers Recording Studio is a recording studio located at 3427 Davey Allison Boulevard in Hueytown. It was opened at its present location in 1985 by brothers Eric and Eugene Bates.

History

The Bates Brothers originally started recording for their own Cornerstone Band by erecting a 12' x 24' metal shed in their parents' back yard in 1979. The success of their self-recorded album brought other bands to them, and the business took off from there. With partner David Gaines they invested $20,000 in opening their commercial studio in eastern Hueytown in 1985.

In December 1989 Bates Brothers added a 24-track analog tape recorder and recording console and added full-time engineer Courtney McGukin. Four years later, 24-track digital was added to the studio. McGukin left and was replaced by Jesse Raegan for a short while.

1996 brought new outboard gear and microphones and additional multi-track recorders, bringing the studio's total to 64. Three years later they upgraded their recording console to a Solid State Logic 6032 E/G from Professional Audio Design. In 2003 22 mono and 4 stereo modules were added to the console, providing a total of 60 automated channels. A 48-track digital recorder replaced the former 24-track unit. The next few years brought additional outboard gear and the installation of Digidesign Protools DAW running on PowerMac computers.

Past Clients

Producer/engineers

Steve Albini (Nirvana), Jeff Tomei (Matchbox 20), Adam Kasper (Foo Fighters, Aerosmith), Kasim Sultan, Milton Davis (Dionne Farris "I Know"), John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr.), Frederick Knight ("Ring My Bell"), Ray Reach (of Magic City Music Productions), Eric Sharper, Chris Thomason (Integrity Music), George Vinson, Courtney McGukin, Cutting Edge Productions Inc., George W. Stewart, Lo Faber, Renard Hughes, David S. Gaines, Anthony Williams (AntMan Music Productions), Tripp Fancher, Jukka Palonen, Kenny Wallis, Shurlock, William Sankey (Safarec Productions), Antonio Jackson, Charles Harnach, Scott McDavid, Randy Harper

Record Companies

Capitol Records, Sony Music, Heartbeat Records, Malaco Records, Drag City Records, Myrrh Records, RCA Records, Aware Records, BMG, Zebra Records, Warner Bros. Records, Magictown Records, Spiritsound Music, Juana Records, Mercy St. Records, Soul 1st Records, Chase Music Group

R&B

The Controllers, Eddie Kendricks, Claude McKnight (Take 6), David Sea, Poonanny, Logan, Timmel Jackson, Alicia Maye, David Camon, Ona Watson, Neverland Randle, Eunjee, Daybreak, Horndogs

Rock, Pop, and Blues

Meat Loaf, Kasim Sulton, Train, Verbena, Dana, Gerry Brown, Riverdance, Topper Price, The Spoons, James Clark, Evan Hart, Kelly Hart Band, Sonny Tackett, Steve Hines, Roadside Attraction, Gravy, Exibit A, King For A Day, Will Oldham, Palace, GoodwooD, Sofa Q, Blue Routes, Drive South (formerly Southern Mixx), Lavish 3 (formerly Ground Wire), The Happy Burnells, Shotgun Runaway, Backstreet Band, Mystic Knights Of The C., Humdinger, Reliks, Euphoria, Jason Crosby, Oteil Burbridge, Downright, Brad Simmons Band, Smothering Holli, Scream Sophie, Suspicious Breed, Proxy, Vicious Circle, Die Mitternaechters, Atticus, Michael Earl, Dum Dum Bullets, Sam Nakos, Poppa Jack, Baby Blaster, Talluah, Shere Khan, Contraband, Elvis tribute artist Reggie Randolph, Phasma (formerly Voodoo Butter), B and the Buzz, Jeff Coopwood, The Thread, Cornerstone, Torin Alter, Charger (formerly Prophecy), Shattered Harvest, Bad Luck Star, Returning Rachel, Beneath, Shelter, Heroic Me, Within Reason, Blue Galaxy String Quartet, Full Throttle

Metal

ZENKIL, Crisis Center, FLAX, Demon Engine, Golem, Serrated

Jazz

Lou Marini Jr. (aka "Blue Lou"), Ray Reach, the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, Robert Moore, Gene Bertoncini, Tom Wolfe, Cleveland Eaton, Tommy Stewart, Reginald Jones, Eric Essix, Kelley O'Neal, UAB SuperJazz Big Band, Scotty Barnhart, Gary Hallquist, Jacksonville State Jazz Ensemble 1, Scott McDavid, The Tuscaloosa Horns, Ves Marable, Chris Gordon, Charlie Dennard, University Of Alabama Jazz Ensemble, Gary Wheat, Renaissance Trombone Ensemble, Dena Lipscomb, Dwight Houston, The Joe Giattina Orchestra, New South Jazz Orchestra, David Amaral, Abe Becker

Country and Bluegrass

Uncle Bud's 'Lectrowood Experience, Shades Mountain Air, John Whitley, Ben Spradley, Parnell Amerson, Kevin Little, Todd Burkhalter, Jeff Jones, Roger Hallmark, Bart Connell, Dixie Gold, Rockin' Country Band, Carol Sandlin, Josh Porter, Dixie Wade, Fiddlin In Th' Parlor (Suzy & Kenny Spencer), Johnny Click, Chris Click, Allison Hutchinson

Rap

Christopher "Play" Martin, G-SPORT, Baby Gangster, LP & Mr. Kasino, Gigalo Pimpin Inc., X-Zavier, Cloud 9, Slave Ghost, Attitude, Rosa B, B.O.S.S., Da Hoop, KNINE, STO-AWAZ, D'Lo, Mello Max, Southern Roots, Noble Gangsta's, Short-Tee, Criminal, Iceburg Familia, Phat Boo, Simon Armad, Psych, Mello, 2LUE

Contemporary Christian

Bryan Duncan, Halo, Gary Douglas Wright, Trinity, Ann Hartmann, David Nashville Jones, Al & Passion Lewis, Bryant Bush, Kevin Williams, Susanna, Son Colored Palette, William Sankey, Greg Hawkins, David Patrick Bryan, Benita Jones, Jeff Morris, Cheri Henley, Sherman Copeland, Faith Harper, Michael Steven Rayborn, Roosevelt Hatcher, Dianne Shaw, Joe Thrasher, Sharon Mayeux, Earnest Walker, Wade Hammond, Eowyn, Jeff Sauseda, Jason Wallis, Chris Davis, Ashla, Becky Couey, Helene, Berlyn Norris, Bob Wootten, Jeri Tanner, William Wood, Cornerstone Band, Glenn Garrett, Kevin Taylor, E-MAN-U-L, Stigma, REALIFE, Allison Kile, The Wood Brothers, Bobby Stringer, Tammy Swan, Theresa Cosper, Brothers Free, Livin' Witness, Charles Foster, Resurrection, Diakonos, Jeff Hairrell, Kerygma, Edsel Davis, Resurrection, Straight Ahead, All Praise, Vann Burchfield, Teresa Burchfield, Andrew Towe, Will McFarlin, Contender, Jim Hammerly, INNOTOF, Marshall Clary, Proclaim, Randy Stembridge, The Bridge Builders, Jeff Hindman, Sound Of Jubilee, Not By Chance, Messenger, Straight From The Heart, On Purpose, Venandee Hennington, Jude's Appeal, Overflow, Contact Band, Gay Palmer, Tami Pockstaller, Sphere, Rob Perry, George Vinson, Roswell Crush, Ed Berry, Tim Vines, Buckler, Charles Diggins, Harbor Lights, Kelvin Parker, Thomas Capra, Amy Drinkwater, Bob Wilson, Level 3, Gregory Brown and The Levite Group, Sacrifice, Hidden Element, Nations Cry, Chad Robison, Reign, Harmony, Lesser Me, Billy Smith, Doris Lockett, Running Back To Glory

Gospel

Steel City Quartet, The Royal Masters, Katie Sankey, Twice Robin, The Smith's, Coleen Beasley, Sweet Harmony, Bob Cain, The Johnson Sisters, The Masters Men, Rev. Walter Ellis and The Country Boys, Uplifted, Southern Harmony, The Southland Quartet, Thrasher Brothers, Buddy Burton, The Delta Aires, God's Chosen Ones, Rev. Edward Collins, God's Choice Gospel Singers, The Miller Singers, Sensational Sons Of God, Sweet Harmony, All Praise, Red Bates, Leon Westerhouse, Peggy George, Renita Allen Dixon, Trinetta August, Ernest Walker, Don Compton, Buddy Poe, James Blackwood (Blackwood Brothers), Jack Tony (Statesmen Quartet), Golden Links, Consetta Brooks, Gwen Helms, Gary Timbs, Feel-N-Fine, The Boles Sisters, Abundant Life Ministries/Gregory Brown, The Mashburns, Roscoe Robinson, Evangelist L.A. & Legacy, The Dumpson Family, Cairo Brownsville Community Male Chorus, Fay Richards, Frankie Jackson, The Scott Family, Christian Connection, Hayward Duncan, HARVA, Howard Thompson, Rodney Kelley, Jacksonville FFA, Oak Grove FFA Quartet & String Band, The Gloryland Singers, Forever His, Wayne Goodwin, Wayne Mixon, Trumpet and Keys (featuring Roger Becks & Cheryl Ramsey), Cornerstone, The Tunnell Sisters, The Lamb Family, Sonrise, W.F. Chilton, Peace Within, Sincere Gospel Singers, Fresh Anointing, Second Coming, Crossroads, Fred Duncan, Brand New Day

Churches

Shades Mountain Baptist; Fellowship West; Trinity Life Church; Gardendale's First Baptist; Hunter Street Baptist; First Baptist Church, Jackson, Mississippi; First Baptist, Pleasant Grove; Greenvalley Baptist; Metro Church Of God; Sumiton Church Of God; Briarwood Presbyterian; Parks Hill Full Gospel; East Memorial Baptist; Church at Brook Hills; Peace Baptist; City Of Hope; Agapa Baptist; Homewood Church of Christ; First Assembly Of God, Bessemer; Union Hill Baptist; Producing Faith Ministries; Hopewell Baptist; Trinity United Methodist, Sixth Avenue Baptist, Dawson Memorial Baptist, and Shades Crest Baptist.

Companies, Organizations, and Schools

Music Alley, Golden Rule Bar-B-Q, SEPIA Inc., WTTO, EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network), Auntie Litter & U.S. Inc. JCCEO, Theatre Tuscaloosa Inc., Bevill State Community College, Pleasant Grove High School, Simmons Middle School, Homewood Middle School, CAPS, and Mississippi University For Women

References

• Nicholson, Gilbert (June 4, 1999) "Bates Brothers making big tracks." Birmingham Business Journal.

External links

• Bates Brothers Recording Studio website