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 |
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
External Sources
Wikipedia: Owen Bradley
Discogs: Owen Bradley
Allmusic: Owen Bradley
Grove: Owen Bradley
IMDb: Owen Bradley
Britannica: Owen Bradley
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Bradley, Owen - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n93068430
Wikidata: Owen Bradley - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2042598
VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/76590769
MusicBrainz: Owen Bradley - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/30de0e74-1d91-476d-9465-907f96efdf8f
Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/1512803 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/1512803
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