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This is my tribute to the man who initially fueled my desire to be in the music business. ACA Studios started in Chicago in the mid 40's. Bill Holford, Sr. had just gotten out of the service where he had been a radio technician. His knowledge of electronics and sound reinforcement lent itself well to his being involved in recording music. After moving to Houston he became one of the most sought after engineers around. Many of the popular bluesman at the time would cut tracks at his studio. Local labels such as Peacock and Bellaire would commission him to do many recordings, this all happening from the late 40's through the 50's and on into the early 60's.
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E-mail : shroom@trinicom.com |
Bill and Wife Kay 1/18/42- The earliest photograph I have of Bill Holford. It's amazing to see pictures like this, his career in the music business hadn't even begun yet. Now, Bill has passed on, but when I look at this photo I see the enthusiasm in his eyes, just like what I had when I was in his studio in the early 80's.
Bill was often interviewed by blues historians from all over. Bill wasn't a very charismatic fellow, he was always deeply serious about his work. If there was one thing that I hope people remember about Bill it was that
the man took his work seriously and being a perfectionist, you could always trust that 100% was being put into your session. It was no fluke that guys like B.B. King, Sonny Boy Williamson, Lightning Hopkins, Johnny Winter, Clarence Brown, Johnny Copeland, Little Richard and a long list of other famous musicians always recorded at his studio when they were in town.
The Control Room in Action- Before ACA moved to the Westpark location, they were operating on Westhiemer, this photo predates the Westpark era. Once at the new location, they boasted the largest tracking room in Texas! Thirty foot high ceilings allowed them to record full orchestras which Bill had become noted for.
The Gear- Bill always had some primo equipment, but once digital started to make its entrance it was difficult to keep up with the never ending demands of modernizing the equipment. It became too difficult financially to compete with the hundreds of new studios popping up everywhere in Texas, so Bill called it a day in 1982 and maintained a small home studio called Bill Holford Sound.
Unknown Artist Laying Down Tracks- Oh I wish I had those Nueman's now! 
The 1948 Raytheon 4-Channel Mixer- Bill's first mixer is living with me now, here is a recent picture of it.
Getting It All On Tape- Musicians at work at ACA.
An ACA Records 45- Compliments of Andrew Brown.
Putting It All Together- Mixing it down in the control room.
The Acetate Cutter-Once upon a time these were the only way to make yourself a portable demo of your recordings.
The Tape Machine Standing Proud- Just think, this machine was once the state-of-the-art. This photo probably was taken at the Fannin Street location, where ACA was from '57 to about '64.
The Ampex 300- The workhorse at ACA during most of the 60's. I sold this machine to Andrew Brown (Texas music historian) and it has been lovingly restored.
Lightnin' Hopkins- A rare shot of Lightnin' recording one of his many sessions with Bill Holford at the helm.
Darrell Clingman Restores ACA Studios- After closing in the early 80's, the studio remained vacant and soon became inhabited by homeless people. One hapless soul (a former worker at the site- after the building closed he got strung out on heroin and cross-dressing) even committed suicide in the building. In the early 90's Darrel Clingman leased out the space and restored it to its former glories. This was the Third Stone Studios era, and with me operating out of Suite B, Darrell and I worked together on many projects. Darrell owned the superb Copper Records label and released some extraordinary power pop albums by Cotton Mather, The Shazam and Dwight Twilley. Also released on Copper was the awesome Tribute to Badfinger CD, featuring some big names in the biz. Darrell and I had a longstanding partnership and friendship throughout the 90's. He now works out of New Orleans and is doing quite well.
