What does Willie Nelson have in common with Gucci Mane and Rick Ross? Metal band Korn and Hip-Hop’s Migos? How about RB duo K-Ci and Jo-Jo and country star Miranda Lambert? All have recorded music at Audio Dallas in Garland. “We’re in a building that the greats have been in – An n-Margret, Kris Kristofferson, Paul McCartney, Charley Pride,” said owner and producer Paul Osborn. “A lot of artists have poured their soul out to a microphone in this room.” For more than 40 years, Osborne has helped preserve the studio’s way of doing things since it first opened as Autumn Sound in the 1970s. “We’ve embraced the old school way – vintage mics, ribbon mics – that capture the sound, and we still use reel-to-reel tape,” Osborn said. The space is the same as it was when Willie Nelson and his family band recorded the iconic 1975 album “Red Headed Stranger”. “He poured his heart and soul into the music he did here and you can hear it,” Osborn said. “When you listen to “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” you can hear the room.” “It became one of the best country albums of our lifetime,” Osborn said. Nelson would go on to record two more albums at the studio, inspiring decades of artists to follow. “We have people who come from literally all over the world who want to sit in the same spot, same part of the room, same kind of mics, just to try and recapture the magic that happened,” Osborn said. It’s an authenticity you can feel sitting in the studio. “It seems to be the trend in music is to try and get that Texas country sound – this is Texas. This is where it came from,” Osborn said. The studio’s reach goes well beyond country. The hallways are lined with photos of artists from all genres. In 1976, Paul McCartney used the studio to mix tapes that eventually became his live album “Wings Over America.” K-Ci and JoJo recorded their 2000 multi-platinum hit “Crazy,” featured in Save the Last Dance. The late Charley Pride also recorded at Audio Dallas. “He was a fun guy to work with – always kept you laughing,” Osborn said. “If he booked a four-hour session, three hours of it was telling stories and telling jokes.” Osborn said he can spend eight to ten hours in one day working on a three-minute song. “We’ll pour our soul into it to make sure it’s perfection once it’s done,” Osborn said. He said most artists appreciate a place that provides an entire band with the space and tools to record together. “You feed off each other and that’s where the magic happens,” Osborn said. Osborn said he’s grateful to everyone that’s helped keep Audio Dallas going. The city of Garland and the state recently recognized its place in music history. “We still create great music. We do this every day – and we’re not going anywhere. We’re here for the artists today and the artists tomorrow,” Osborn said. ...read more read less