Published in The Islander Magazine September 2014
Sugar Hill Studios co-owner and Chief Engineer Andy Bradley, began his career in music as a roadie for AC/DC's 1975 tour of Australia
When one reads about a particular individual’s “influence on music” it’s usually with reference to a writer or performer. For the most part, the ‘artist’ gets all the glory while scores of behind the scenes people go unrecognized for their contributions. SugarHill Recording Studios co-owner and Chief Engineer, Andy Bradley, is one of those behind the scenes people you’ve probably never heard of but have enjoyed hearing for years. Not his voice or the sound of an instrument he plays but his work engineering, mixing, and producing music for many of music’s most respected artists. From the likes of Willie Nelson, B.B. King, and Mickey Gilley to many of Houston and Galveston’s most talented artists like Myrna Sanders, Van Wilks, Ricky Jackson, Billy Bourbon, Buxton and many others, Bradley has had a hand, or an ear, in creating the sound.
Amidst the tidal wave of music coming from SugarHill, perhaps least recognized would be Bradley’s, and his partners, Dan Workman and Rodney Myers, work to keep SugarHill’s reputation as the “Abbey Road of the south” in tact. Living up to the expectations that brought The Rolling Stones, The Who, and George Jones among others to the studio, and produced hits for Lightnin’ Hopkins, Roy Head, Freddy Fender and Destiny’s Child (Beyonce) is no easy task. Keeping current with technology, competitive with pricing and continually turning out quality songs, CD’s, and live sound recording services speaks to Bradley’s success as an entrepreneur in the very turbulent music industry.
Andy Bradley began his music career in 1975 as a live sound engineer in Australia, where he attended college, touring with rock’s legendary, AC/DC. Bradley’s father worked for an international shipping company and was stationed in The Phillipines, where he was raised, and his fascination with sound and electronics began. “I used to hot rod and tinker with my dad’s stereo to make it louder and more obnoxious,” says Bradley. “Years later when I was in college a friend asked me if I wanted to be a roadie for rock & roll bands. I said, ‘What’s a roadie?’ The guy said, ‘well, you drive the truck, set up the equipment, and there’s usually free alcohol and lots of women’. I said, ‘I’m there!” Thanks to Bradley’s enthusiasm for the music life and aptitude for sound system construction it didn’t take long for him to graduate from coiling cables to running the sound board.
Now a happily married man, these days Bradley prefers coffee to alcohol, and working from behind one of his two massive consoles at SugarHill, to driving trucks full of gear. Although he still ventures from the studio to record live concerts many times a month for Rice University’s Shepherd School Of Music (Bradley is Chief Audio Engineer for the school) or to capture a rock band like Galveston favorite, Marty Monte’s Magazine (Monte’s CD ‘Live In Galveston’ is available at CDBaby.com).
When it comes to contributing his artistic excellence to a project, Bradley makes no distinction between the famous and the lesser known. Local singer-songwriter, Myrna Sanders has been working with Andy Bradley since her first-ever recording sessions. “Everything I learned about recording, I learned from Andy,” says Sanders, whose song, ‘Life’s Too Short’ from the Bradley co-produced CD ‘Big Head Diva’ has been heard regularly on KACC 89.7 and KPFT 90.1 (two stations playing lots of Houston/Galveston music!) since being released in 2012. “Andy isn’t afraid to tell you, ‘I think you can do better’ on a vocal track or instrumental part.”
Although Bradley, with his 40-plus years in music and over 1000 commercial CD’s, vinyl albums and cassette tapes credited to his name (in various positions from engineer to producer), is a deep well of musical knowledge, he still handles every artist and situation with humble reservation, understanding his role and where his opinions are best utilized. “If there’s a producer in the room I shut up until I’m asked questions. But if the band in the studio has made it clear they want my help making decisions about arrangements or with mixing, I try and give them as much information as I possibly can to try and help the process along.”
In addition to his many job titles and hats worn, Bradley can also be called ‘Grammy nominated’ as he has worked on several projects that have earned the distinction. In 2010 Bradley also became a published author with his book, “House Of Hits: The Story Of Houston’s Gold Star/SugarHill Recording Studios”. Co-written with Houston music historian, Roger Wood and published by the University of Texas Press, the book is a well-researched chronicle of one of the oldest continuously running recording studios in the United States (albeit under several different names and owners) dating back to 1941. “When I was working here for producer Huey Meaux from 1984 to 1986 (then the owner and person who changed the studio name from Gold Star to SugarHill) he would talk about all the various artists that recorded here. The Sir Douglas Quintet, the 13th Floor Elevators, The Rolling Stones, Todd Rundgren. I thought, ‘Wow, all those artists... why not write a book?’” Bradley pondered the idea for many years before beginning to write in 2002. Interviewing over 100 musicians, producers, and colorful characters and cataloging all of the many charting hits produced by the studio since 1947, ‘House Of Hits’ is a must read for anyone interested in Houston/Galveston’s rich music history. The book is available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble on-line and at Houston’s Cactus Music and Sig’s Lagoon.
Carried on the sound waves he helped create, Andy Bradley’s passion for making music has undoubtedly touched millions of people around the world. His generous spirit for helping people get the most from their art is evident in the demand for his time from some of music’s best known artists, to those just getting started. “I love working with new artists! If a person has always thought about recording one of their songs and is looking for a place to make that happen, come to SugarHill!”
SugarHill produces a free E-zine monthly. More info at www.SugarHillStudios.com
Zach Tate is writer, photographer and musician. www.ZachTate.com for more profiles.
House Of Hits, a history of Houston's Gold Star/Sugar Hill Studios is available at
