Interview with Brooks Arthur, April 30, 1999

Interview Summary

This is an interview with audio engineer Brooks Arthur. Arthur discusses his career across various recording studios and the artists he worked during the 1950s and '60s.

Arthur describes his experience as a child with singing and audio recording. Arthur describes the musical play he co-authored with Bob Booker titled 'Crooners.' Arthur describes his first job in the mail room of Decca Records and how he was introduced to the recording industry. Arthur describes the studio etiquette of Decca Records' Artist and Repertoire Department during the 1950s and the things he learned from it. Arthur describes his work as a recording engineer after Decca Records, when he worked between Dick Charles Studios and Bradley's Barn Studio during the beginning of Nashville's music industry. Arthur discusses technical methods used to record songs quickly during the 1960s, and the way songs were given to the radio stations before they were made into records or albums. Arthur briefly discusses his time with Mirror Sound Studios. Arthur describes his preferred methods of recording.

Interview Keyword

Recording business Recording studios Decca Records (Firm) Karl Records Arthur, Brooks Sound studios Music history Thiele, Bob Nashville music history Country music King, Carole (Artist) Decca Artist and Repertoire department

Interview LC Subject

Sound engineering Audio engineering Audio engineers Sound engineers Music history Sound--History Sound--History--20th Century Audio history Recording industry

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.