United Sound Systems
{{Short description|Recording studio and locally designated historic district in Detroit, Michigan, United States}}
File:United Sound Systems 2024.jpg
United Sound Systems is a recording studio and locally designated historic district in Detroit, Michigan, United States.[http://www.freep.com/article/20130703/NEWS01/307030043/motown-sound-United-Sound-Systems-detroit-sound-conservancy-demolition-freeway-expansion-MDOT-barry-gordy-aretha-franklin-eminem Walker, Marlon A. "I-94 expansion threatens recording studio where Motown sound got its start," Detroit Free Press, July 3, 2013.] Many popular music artists over the last seventy years have recorded at the facility, including blues musicians like John Lee Hooker (he recorded "Boogie Chillen'" there in 1948), and funk bands like Parliament-Funkadelic. The studio was also the site of the first recording for Berry Gordy's Tamla label in 1959, starting what would become Motown Records. The building is threatened by a planned highway service drive expansion by the Michigan Department of Transportation.[http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9621_11058_53088_53115-112105--,00.html Michigan Department of Transportation, "Final Environmental Impact Statement, 2014."] The studio ownership changed in 2009 and eventually reopened in 2014.[http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/8297/detroit_s_legendary_united_sound_systems_studio_slowing_gets_its_groove_back#.UxT3el5sg0I Hoerler, Eli DiSante. "Detroit's United Sound Systems Studio Slowly Gets Its Groove Back," Deadline Detroit, February 10, 2014] It was designated a local historic district by the City of Detroit in 2015.{{cite web|last1=Lewis|first1=Mathew|title=Giving United Sound, Detroit's other landmark music studio, its due|url=http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/United-Sound-102015.aspx|website=Model D|publisher=Model D|access-date=23 April 2016}}
Others who have recorded at the studio include Aretha Franklin, Johnnie Ray, Dizzy Gillespie, Bob Seger, Jackie Wilson, Dan Schafer and Alberta Adams.historical marker at building
History
There is currently a debate within collector forums and Detroit music historians about the origins of United. The issues revolve around when the first Cass location for the studio began and when it moved to the current location at 5840 Second Avenue.{{cite web|last=Maki|first=Craig|title=United Sound Systems: Universal origins?|url=http://carcitycountry.com/2013/united-sound-systems-universal-origins/|access-date=15 April 2014}} Regardless, it was listed at the current Second Avenue location by 1943.{{cite web|title=Transcription Companies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5B8EAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22united+sound+systems%22&pg=PA121|work=Billboard Music Year Book 1943|year = 1943|publisher=Billboard|access-date=15 April 2014}}
The historical marker says that James Siracuse converted the current location to a recording studio in 1939. The house it is located in was built in 1916. The 1946 Inter-racial Goodwill Program was recorded here.
In March 2014, The Detroit News reported that:
"M-DOT spokesman Rob Morosi said they [MDOT] met with Scott last summer, and had 'a good conversation' about various options on the table. One of those options, he confirms, would be moving the studio from its location on Second at Antoinette. 'We’re waiting to hear back from them,' Morosi said Monday. (Scott says she’s exploring her options, but moving the large house and back studio is not what she favors.)"{{cite news|last=Whitall|first=Susan|title=Saving United Sound: Legendary Detroit Studio set stave for Motown|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140311/ENT04/303110012#ixzz2vn0npNBI|newspaper=Detroit News|date=March 11, 2014}}
Later in March, the Associated Press reported that the Detroit City Council "will refer the United Sound Systems Recording Studio matter to a historic designation advisory board for study."{{cite news|last=Associated Press|title=City seeks historic designation study for Motown studio|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20140317/NEWS05/303170171/1001/news|access-date=15 April 2014|newspaper=Associated Press|date=March 17, 2014}} The National Park Service conducted a study of the site and the Blue Bird Inn in 2019 but found they were not suitable to be an affiliated area of the national park system.{{Cite web |title=ParkPlanning - Detroit Sound Conservancy Reconnaissance Survey |url=https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=96637 |access-date=2022-12-26 |website=parkplanning.nps.gov}}
Selected recordings
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- http://unitedsoundsystemsrecordingstudios.com/
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{{Coord|42.36235|-83.07236|type:landmark_region:US-MI|display=title}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Detroit