| Author | Message | ||
  dvdmike (dvdmike) 5-Doyen Username: dvdmike Post Number: 250 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.208.234.61 |
On August 5, Sigma Sound Studios at 212 N. 12th St. had it's 36th birthday. I meant to post it then, but I didn't get the chance. Well, better late than never. Joe Tarsia opened Sigma on August 5, 1968 at the former location of Reco-Art, then Sound Plus Studios. Within a short time it became Philly's top studio and the rest is history. Bobby was there from the git, so he could tell you the whole story. About a month after the studio opened, Jerry Butler's first Sigma session in early September 1968 included "Only The Strong Survive." | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1200 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.56.214 |
Happy birthday to my "second home" for a lot of years. I am what I am because of my association with Sigma and the Sound of Philadelphia. By the way,Sound Plus was at a different location, at Harbison near Levick for most of its existance, and when they moved from 212 n 12th a company from texas tok it over for a short time and when it was available again, Joe Tarsia hocked everything he owned to come up with the money to make it happen. Partnerships in the studio were offered at the time butI didnt have that kind of money,at that time. Oh well!! I had mentioned on another post the the first session which was a test included, We dont need no music by the Landslides, and Rover Rover and ghetto Woman by Ruth Mc Fadden. gamble with his seal of approval  | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1203 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.56.214 |
BTW..Joe got the name Sigma from a Greek diner where he was eating one day, and he loved the sound of it and the "triple S" thing. | ||
Ralph Terrana (ralph) Moderator Username: ralph Post Number: 480 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 209.240.205.63 |
Bobby, How lucky you were to be part of this incredible music machine. How fortunate they were to have you also. | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1206 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.162.127.172 |
Hey Ralph, You aint chopped liver either my goomba. You WERE and ARE the man behind a GREAT Detroit facility responsible imo for some of the greatest music to ever come out of Detroit next to Motown and left one helluva legacy with your "temple of sound"!!! | ||
phil hurtt (phillyfossil) 2-Debutant Username: phillyfossil Post Number: 21 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 68.37.87.187 |
Hey Bobby, I remember a few sessions up at the Harbison ave location with leroy Lovett (the god-father). You may recall he produced " mixed up shook up girl" on Patty & the emblems, written by C. Hamilton aka Leon Huff. SoundPlus ,takes me back. I beleive Tony Luisi was the owner and engineer. | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1214 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.162.127.172 |
Thats right Phil. Now, when you record Ann Byers, Was it worth the price,(I think) , was it Sound Plus on 12th street, or under the temporary ownership of those Texas dudes ? | ||
Carl Dixon (carl_dixon) 3-Pundit Username: carl_dixon Post Number: 66 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 195.153.219.170 |
From a British perspective, Leroy Lovett and Frank Bendinelli have great respect for their output from Philly. Im gonna love them a long long time........ | ||
phil hurtt (phillyfossil) 2-Debutant Username: phillyfossil Post Number: 22 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 68.37.87.187 |
Bobby, I loved that song, "Was it worth the price". That was on the lyric lable, remember your boy RAYFIELD? He had an office across the street from "The Uptown". We cut that tune with him, he also had Brenda Payton and some good local talent. Yes, the Ann Byers sessions ("Happy without you" "Here I Am" etc.)) where recorded during the transition, Tony was still engineering. | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1221 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.162.127.172 |
Hey Phil, I remember when Brenda was in the Joylettes which was Rayfield's act. Rayfield, wow!! Remember Pancho Villa? How about Louis Watts and the Rocketeers on Val-ue? They did a decent version of My Foolish Heart. I guess that Felix Valdez of Val-ue loved those old standards. My hero, Bewitched bothered and bewildered, My foolish heart. Louis had no arms, but somehow he rang my bell when he came to my house. Their manager was a guy named David Ellerbe. (Message edited by phillysoulman on August 11, 2004) | ||
phil hurtt (phillyfossil) 2-Debutant Username: phillyfossil Post Number: 24 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 68.37.87.187 |
Bobby, The joylettes, sisters Joyce& Carol Jefferson with Brenda Payton, Joyce played piano. Do you recall Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes version of "My Hero". Is Pancho still with us? How about CHICO BOOTH? | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 1226 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.162.127.172 |
Of course I recall My hero by HM &TBN. Pancho passed last year and Chico passed about thirty five years ago. His cabaret parties were the bomb, especially the Imperial Ballroom on 60th and Walnut! | ||
bigdaddyg2k4 (bigdaddyg2k4) 3-Pundit Username: bigdaddyg2k4 Post Number: 59 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 206.157.27.144 |
Philly and Sigma are among the places I want to go b4 I die! Sigma (and not to forget the legendary Cameo-Parkway) are truly the "Cathedrals of the Philly Sound"! Nuff said. |
