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 1-25 of 888 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-073717 10-in. 3/18/1942 Deliver me to Tennessee Ray Kellogg ; Sonny Dunham Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal ensemble songwriter  
Victor E0VB-5508 10-in. 8/22/1950 The fiery bear Jack Holden ; Frances Kay Female-male vocal duet, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-5509 10-in. 8/22/1950 What would Washington say? Jack Holden ; Frances Kay Female-male vocal duet, with string band. instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-5510 10-in. 8/22/1950 Bashful rascal Bashful Rascals (June Carter) ; June Carter Cash Female vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-5511 10-in. 8/22/1950 For crying out loud! Bashful Rascals (June Carter) ; June Carter Cash Female vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-5818 10-in. 10/20/1950 Station L-O-V-E signing off Rosalie Allen ; Black River Riders Female vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-5819 10-in. 10/20/1950 One and one is two, baby Rosalie Allen ; Black River Riders Female vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-5820 10-in. 10/20/1950 I've got the craziest feeling Rosalie Allen ; Black River Riders Female vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-5821 10-in. 10/20/1950 Cranberry kisses and strawberry hugs Rosalie Allen ; Black River Riders Female vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-5830 10-in. 10/22/1950 Let's sail away to heaven Rosalie Allen ; Elton Britt ; Skytoppers Female-male vocal duet, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-5831 10-in. 10/22/1950 It is no secret Rosalie Allen ; Elton Britt ; Skytoppers Female-male vocal duet, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor E0VB-5832 10-in. 10/22/1950 Lost and found blues Elton Britt ; Skytoppers Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D6VB-1870 10-in. 3/20/1946 All alone in the world without you Eddy Arnold ; Tennessee Plowboys Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano, songwriter  
Victor D6VB-1871 10-in. 3/20/1946 Can't win, can't place, can't show Eddy Arnold ; Tennessee Plowboys Male vocal solo, with vocal trio and string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D6VB-1872 10-in. 3/20/1946 What's life without love Eddy Arnold Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano, songwriter  
Victor D6VB-1873 10-in. 3/20/1946 That's how much I love you Eddy Arnold Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D6VB-1875 10-in. 3/20/1946 Chained to a memory Eddy Arnold Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7VB-0730 10-in. 5/18/1947 Don't bother to cry Eddy Arnold Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7VB-0732 10-in. 5/18/1947 I'll hold you in my heart (till I can hold you in my arms) Eddy Arnold Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7VB-0733 10-in. 5/18/1947 Bouquet of roses Eddy Arnold Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7VB-0734 10-in. 5/18/1947 What a fool I was Eddy Arnold Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7VB-0735 10-in. 5/18/1947 Little angel with a dirty face Eddy Arnold Male vocal solo, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7VB-0737 10-in. 5/18/1947 Take them cold feet outa my back (before I kick you out) Lonzo and Oscar ; Winston County Pea Pickers Male vocal duet, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7VB-0738 10-in. 5/18/1947 Old buttermilk sky Lonzo and Oscar ; Winston County Pea Pickers Male vocal duet, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
Victor D7VB-0739 10-in. 5/18/1947 Cornbread, 'lasses and sassafrass tea Lonzo and Oscar ; Winston County Pea Pickers Male vocal duet, with string band instrumentalist, piano  
(Results 1-25 of 888 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Bradley, Owen," accessed December 25, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106914.

Bradley, Owen. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 25, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106914.

"Bradley, Owen." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 25 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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