Owen Bradley

William Owen Bradley (October 21, 1915 – January 7, 1998) was an American musician, bandleader and record producer who, along with Chet Atkins, Bob Ferguson, Bill Porter, and Don Law, was a chief architect of the 1950s and 60s Nashville sound in country music and rockabilly.

Bradley started with piano at a young age, and began performing professionally as a teenager. At age 20, he joined WSM (AM) as an arranger and musician, and by 1942 had become the station's musical director. At the same time, Bradley led a dance band that enjoyed popularity in local society circles.

In 1947, Bradley was hired by the head of Decca Records' country music division, Paul Cohen, to assist with recording sessions and later establish the label's operations in Nashville. In 1954, Bradley established Bradley Studios, later commonly known as the Quonset Hut Studio, which was the first music industry-related business in what is now known as Music Row, and helping establish Nashville as a recording industry center.

In 1958, Bradley became vice president of Decca's Nashville division. This period marked the beginning of the Nashville sound, a movement that aimed to broaden country music's appeal by incorporating pop elements. Bradley's work extended to producing records for artists like Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, playing a key role in their career successes.

Bradley sold Bradley Studios to Columbia Records in 1962, and two years later established Bradley's Barn, a new recording studio that continued to attract a range of recording artists. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1974, reflecting his impact on the industry. Bradley's later years saw him working on selected projects, including k.d. lang's Shadowland album.

Bradley's contributions have been recognized with various honors, including the dedication of a public park and a bronze likeness in Nashville. His legacy in the music industry is marked by his role in shaping the Nashville sound and influence on several generations of musicians.

Birth and Death Data: Born Westmoreland (town in Sumner County, Tennessee, United States), Died January 7, 1998 (Nashville (capital and largest city of Tennessee, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1942 - 1967

Roles Represented in DAHR: piano, leader, organ, other, songwriter, electric organ, producer, vibraphone, clarinet

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 76-100 of 888 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 106726 3/3/1959 I feel like travelling on Webb Pierce leader  
Decca OB-1 7/31/1950 I'll never be free Owen Bradley Sextet leader  
Decca OB-2 7/31/1950 The boulevard of broken dreams Owen Bradley leader  
Decca OB-3 7/31/1950 Is there somebody else Owen Bradley leader  
Decca OB-4 7/31/1950 The petite waltz Owen Bradley Sextet leader  
Decca BR 105 5/8/1953 The breeze Owen Bradley leader  
Decca BR 106 5/8/1953 Granada Owen Bradley leader  
Decca BR 107 5/8/1953 Blue letter-1 Owen Bradley ; Disck Todd leader  
Decca BR 108 5/8/1953 The last waltz Owen Bradley Orchestra ; Disck Todd leader  
Decca NA 175 6/12/1949 My Filipino rose The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 176 6/12/1949 My Tennessee baby The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 177 6/12/1949 Slipping around The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 178 6/12/1949 Warm red wine The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 179 6/12/1949 Driftwood on the river The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2016 8/24/1949 Fairy tales Owen Bradley Quintet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2017 8/24/1949 There's a little white house Owen Bradley Quintet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2018 8/24/1949 Pickin' 'em up and puttin' 'em down Owen Bradley Quintet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2019 8/24/1949 Blues stay away from me Owen Bradley Quintet instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2024 8/26/1949 I'll never slip around again Walter "Hank" "Sugarfoot" Garland instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2025 8/26/1949 This cold war with you Walter "Hank" "Sugarfoot" Garland instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2026 8/26/1949 Some other world Walter "Hank" "Sugarfoot" Garland instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2027 8/26/1949 Sugarfoot rag Walter "Hank" "Sugarfoot" Garland instrumentalist, piano  
Decca NA 2028 8/26/1949 White Christmas The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, organ  
Decca NA 2029 8/26/1949 Blue Christmas The Texas Troubadours ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, organ  
Decca NA 2041 11/8/1949 Tennessee border No.2 Red Foley ; Ernest Tubb instrumentalist, organ  
(Results 76-100 of 888 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bradley, Owen," accessed January 6, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106914.

Bradley, Owen. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 6, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106914.

"Bradley, Owen." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 6 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106914

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