A
studio band is a
musical ensemble that is in the employ of a
recording studio for the purpose of accompanying recording artists who are customers of the studio. The use of studio bands was more common during the 1960s with groups such
Booker T. & the M.G.'s. The benefit of having a regular group, an approach which typified
Southern soul, is that the group has much more experience playing together, which enables them to get a better sense of ensemble.
Notable groups •
The Nashville A-Team (Nashville, 1950s–1960s) : Studio musicians who recorded during the
Nashville sound era. Their contributions began in the 1950s with artists such as
Elvis Presley. The original A-Team includes bassist
Bob Moore; guitarists
Grady Martin,
Hank Garland, Ray Edenton, and
Harold Bradley; drummer
Buddy Harman; pianists
Floyd Cramer and
Hargus "Pig" Robbins; fiddler
Tommy Jackson; steel guitarist
Pete Drake; harmonicist
Charlie McCoy; saxophonist
Boots Randolph; and vocal groups
The Jordanaires and The
Anita Kerr Singers. Cramer, McCoy, and Randolph, along with later A-Teamer and producer
Chet Atkins, would later emerge as part of ''
Hee Haw's''
Million Dollar Band in the 1980s. •
The Brill Building Sound (New York City, 1960s) :A collection of musicians based at the
Brill Building at 1619 Broadway and the
Aldon Music Allegro Studios at 1650 Broadway. The two locations were already producing popular music in the 1940s as
Tin Pan Alley had been waning; it was in the late 1950s and early 1960s that a distinct
Brill Building sound began to coalesce, which backed musicians such as
The Four Seasons,
Neil Sedaka,
Bobby Darin, and the early girl groups associated with
Phil Spector, who later built upon his work at the Brill Building into his more famous
Wall of Sound. Many of the Brill Building studio musicians were themselves recording artists and songwriters. • '''
Booker T. & the M.G.'s''' (Memphis, 1960s–1970s) : The house band at
Stax records in
Memphis during the 1960s and 1970s, playing behind
Otis Redding,
Eddie Floyd,
Sam and Dave,
Isaac Hayes,
The Staple Singers, and others. M.G.'s guitarist
Steve Cropper co-wrote many of Redding's hits, and the M.G.'s produced albums and hit singles such as "
Green Onions" in their own right while being the house band at Stax. •
The Wrecking Crew (Los Angeles, 1960s–1970s) : Prolific, established studio musicians based in Los Angeles, among which bassist
Carol Kaye stands out as one of the rare female instrumentalists. They have recorded many songs and albums since the 1960s. •
The Ron Hicklin Singers (Los Angeles, 1960s-1980s) : A vocal session group closely associated with the Wrecking Crew and appeared as backing vocalists on many of the Crew's recordings, including T.V. and movie themes and radio and television commercials. •
The Blossoms (Los Angeles, 1950s-1970s) : An all-female vocal group featuring
Darlene Love, which was closely associated with the Wrecking Crew and with
Phil Spector, appeared as backing vocalists on many of their recordings. From 1964 to 1966, they were featured vocalists on the weekly rock' n' roll television program
Shindig! •
The Funk Brothers (Detroit, 1960s–1970s) : Session musicians who backed many
Motown Records recordings from the late 1950s to the early 1970s as well as a few non-Motown recordings, notably on
Jackie Wilson's "
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher". •
The Andantes (Detroit, 1960s-1970s) : An all-female trio of backing vocalists who backed many
Motown Records artists from the late 1950s to the early 1970s as well as a few non-Motown artists, including
Jackie Wilson,
Betty Everett, and
John Lee Hooker. Closely associated with the Funk Brothers. •
The Memphis Boys (Memphis, 1960s) : Session musicians who served as
American Sound Studio's house band. They backed such artists as
Aretha Franklin,
Elvis Presley,
Wilson Pickett,
Joe Tex,
Neil Diamond, and
Dusty Springfield, among others. •
The Section (Los Angeles, 1960s–1970s) : A Los Angeles singer/songwriter scene associated with the
Troubadour nightclub and
Laurel Canyon in the late 1960s to mid-1970s was supported by musicians
Russ Kunkel,
Danny Kortchmar,
Leland Sklar and
Craig Doerge. This session combo, nicknamed "the Section" or "the Mafia," backed many musicians, among others:
Carole King,
James Taylor,
Jackson Browne,
Warren Zevon,
Kris Kristofferson and
David Crosby. •
The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (Memphis, 1960s) : A group comprising
Barry Beckett,
Roger Hawkins,
David Hood, and
Jimmy Johnson, also known as the Swampers, became known for the "Muscle Shoals Sound." Many of the recordings done in the
Memphis area, which included
Muscle Shoals, Alabama, used
The Memphis Horns in their arrangements. •
MFSB (Philadelphia, 1970s) :
MFSB ("Mother Father Sister Brother") was a group of
soul music studio musicians based in
Philadelphia at the
Sigma Sound Studios; they later went on to become a name-brand instrumental group, and their best-known hit was "
TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)," better known as the theme from
Soul Train. •
The Hillside Singers (1970s) : A vocal group commissioned to provide vocals for Mayoham Music, formed by husband and wife
Al Ham and Mary Mayo (the latter of whom was also a member of the group). The group is best known for their jingles and television news themes. "
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)," originally composed as a jingle for
Coca-Cola, became a surprise hit and the source of the group's recording name, as the Coca-Cola commercial featured singers on a hillside.
The New Seekers would have an even larger hit with the same song. Their best-known news theme was "
Move Closer to Your World," associated with
Capital Cities Communications'
Action News local news format. •
Salsoul Orchestra (New York, 1970s–1980s) : Session musicians who backed many
Salsoul Records recordings from 1974 to 1982. Under their own name, they recorded and released several hit singles and albums between 1975 and 1982. •
Compass Point All Stars (Nassau, 1970s–1980s) : Session musicians who served as the house band at
Compass Point Studios. ==See also==