Joseph Tarsia
Encyclopedia
Philadelphia-based recording engineer Joe Tarsia's skills can be heard on a significant number of classic pop music tracks, earning him over 150 gold and platinum record
awards. He was also the founder and owner of the legendary Sigma Sound Studios
. Besides being a state of the art
recording studio
, Sigma Sound was the recording base of Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia International Records
. Tarsia's recordings of that time were noteworthy for their clarity and aural definition, achieved years before the digital era.
Tarsia took technical courses in high school before taking a position with the research department of Philco Corporation, which lasted for a decade. Later, he became a service technician for various Philadelphia recording studios. Hungry for knowledge, Tarsia would trek to New York City
to mix with top audio engineers. Around 1961, he took an audio engineering
position with Cameo Parkway Records. Cameo Parkway's artists included Chubby Checker
, Frankie Avalon
, Fabian, Bobby Rydell
, The Orlons, Dee Dee Sharp
, The Dovells
and Bunny Sigler
.
In the fall of 1967, Tarsia, the aspiring studio owner, sold his car, house and other personal possessions and purchased a lease on the second floor of the 212 North 12th Street Building (formerly Sound Plus Studios), and upgraded the studio from 2-track mono to 8-track stereo. Operating as a one-man operation, Sigma Sound opened its doors for business on August 5, 1968. During the 1970s' gold and multi-platinum
-laced heyday of 'The Sound Of Philadelphia', the facility became a 24-hour operation, in order to meet the great demand for its services. The studio's success prompted Tarsia to open another studio in nearby New York, named Sigma Sound Studios of New York. It had a client list that included Whitney Houston
, Madonna
, Billy Joel
, Steely Dan
, Ashford and Simpson
and Paul Simon
.
In 1990, Tarsia's son Michael Tarsia became president of Sigma. More recently, Joe Tarsia is sharing his vast wealth of knowledge and experience, as lecturer and as a participant in such educational programs as GRAMMY In The Schools.
Tarsia closed the New York studio sometime in the early 1990s; and in 2003, sold the original studio in Philadelphia.
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
awards. He was also the founder and owner of the legendary Sigma Sound Studios
Sigma Sound Studios
Sigma Sound Studios is an American music recording studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded by recording engineer Joseph Tarsia in 1968.Located at 212 N. 12th Street in Philadelphia, it was the second studio in the country to offer 24-track recording and the first in the country to use console...
. Besides being a state of the art
State of the art
The state of the art is the highest level of development, as of a device, technique, or scientific field, achieved at a particular time. It also refers to the level of development reached at any particular time as a result of the latest methodologies employed.- Origin :The earliest use of the term...
recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
, Sigma Sound was the recording base of Gamble and Huff's Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records is a record label founded by writer-producers, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971. It was famous for showcasing the sub-genre of Philadelphia soul music and released a string of worldwide hits during the decade.-History:...
. Tarsia's recordings of that time were noteworthy for their clarity and aural definition, achieved years before the digital era.
Tarsia took technical courses in high school before taking a position with the research department of Philco Corporation, which lasted for a decade. Later, he became a service technician for various Philadelphia recording studios. Hungry for knowledge, Tarsia would trek to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to mix with top audio engineers. Around 1961, he took an audio engineering
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
position with Cameo Parkway Records. Cameo Parkway's artists included Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker is an American singer-songwriter. He is widely known for popularizing the twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard's R&B hit "The Twist"...
, Frankie Avalon
Frankie Avalon
Frankie Avalon is an American actor, singer, playwright, and former teen idol.-Career:By the time he was 12, Avalon was on U.S. television playing his trumpet. As a teenager he played with Bobby Rydell in Rocco and the Saints...
, Fabian, Bobby Rydell
Bobby Rydell
Bobby Rydell is an American professional singer, mainly of rock and roll music. In the early 1960s he was considered a so-called "teen idol"...
, The Orlons, Dee Dee Sharp
Dee Dee Sharp
Dee Dee Sharp is an American R&B singer, who began her career recording as a backing vocalist in 1961.-Career:...
, The Dovells
The Dovells
The Dovells were an American music group, formed at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1957, under the name 'The Brooktones'. The members were Arnie Silver, Mark Gordesky, Len Borisoff , Jerry Gross, Mike Freda and Jim Mealey...
and Bunny Sigler
Bunny Sigler
Walter "Bunny" Sigler is a pop and R&B songwriter and record producer who has done extensive work with the team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and who was instrumental in creating the "Philly Sound" in the early 1970s. He is nicknamed "Mr...
.
In the fall of 1967, Tarsia, the aspiring studio owner, sold his car, house and other personal possessions and purchased a lease on the second floor of the 212 North 12th Street Building (formerly Sound Plus Studios), and upgraded the studio from 2-track mono to 8-track stereo. Operating as a one-man operation, Sigma Sound opened its doors for business on August 5, 1968. During the 1970s' gold and multi-platinum
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
-laced heyday of 'The Sound Of Philadelphia', the facility became a 24-hour operation, in order to meet the great demand for its services. The studio's success prompted Tarsia to open another studio in nearby New York, named Sigma Sound Studios of New York. It had a client list that included Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
, Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
, Ashford and Simpson
Ashford & Simpson
Nickolas Ashford , and Valerie Simpson , were a husband and wife songwriting/production team and recording artists....
and Paul Simon
Paul Simon
Paul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
.
In 1990, Tarsia's son Michael Tarsia became president of Sigma. More recently, Joe Tarsia is sharing his vast wealth of knowledge and experience, as lecturer and as a participant in such educational programs as GRAMMY In The Schools.
Tarsia closed the New York studio sometime in the early 1990s; and in 2003, sold the original studio in Philadelphia.