Cherokee Studios

The Story

This legendary studio was founded in 1972, when brothers Bruce, Dee, and Joe Robb transformed a barn into a makeshift studio, recording Steely Dan's *Pretzel Logic*. In 1975, they moved to this address on Fairfax Avenue, occupying the former MGM Records building. It was here that David Bowie recorded *Station to Station* in 1975. In the following years, artists such as Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, and Tom Petty passed through the studio, as well as Ringo Starr, who reunited Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Linda McCartney to record *Stop and Smell the Roses* in 1980. Michael Jackson recorded part of *Off the Wall* here. The Beatles' producer, George Martin, even called Cherokee the best studio in the United States. It closed in 2007 and was demolished to make way for residential lofts, but the Robb brothers reopened the studio at 5243 Melrose Ave in 2020.

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