Inside The Starday-King Studio
By Randy Fox
Photos by Dan Heller
In mid-January, a group including District 8 Councilperson Nancy VanReece, local historic preservationists, and reporters from The Madisonian were given an inside look at the former Starday-King Sound Studios in Madison by Woodbine Community Organization (WCO) Executive Director Tony Woodham. WCO purchased the historic property in November 2021, as detailed in the Winter 2022 issue of The Madisonian.
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Catastrophic structural damage to the building — the result of two decades of neglect and exposure to the elements — was apparent throughout. The owner removed most of the recording equipment and other building contents in 2002. However, several significant artifacts worth preserving for a planned community space/museum on the site remained. A classic Hammond B-3 organ and the accompanying Leslie Organ Speaker are among these.
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Since the January survey, a group of music history preservationists led by studio manager Sharon Corbitt has secured and removed the artifacts from the building. Woodham is working with the Metropolitan Historical Commission on the proper salvaging of architectural elements (including a portion of the iconic sandstone wall of the front part of the building) slated for incorporation into a new structure.
The Madisonian will continue to update this story.
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