'It's pretty overwhelming to see all these people.' Stoppe said. Stoppe, who worked for Sigma for almost 25 years, waxed nostalgic about being so busy that a social life was impossible, with staff bonding over Broad Street Diner breakfasts at 4 in the morning after late-night sessions. It's astounding how everyone's kept in touch.' The vote came after about 45 minutes of community. The Philadelphia Historical Commission, in a unanimous decision this morning, added the two-story grey brick building on Spring and 12th Streets to the City’s register of historic places. 'I don't buy green bananas.' Cecilia Tarsia added, 'It really is like a family. It’s official: Sigma Sound Studios, where so much music history was made, is now a historic place. The poignancy of Sunday's soiree was made greater because of the passage of time.

'I see you have a Nakamichi 700,' he said.

The blind musician was so aware of his surroundings, Stoppe said, that when he handed an engineer a cassette to play, he was able to identify the model number of the tape machine by the sound the door made when it dropped open. He remembered recording Robert Hazard's 'Escalator of Life' and delighted in telling a Stevie Wonder tale about his 1979 album Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants. Stoppe talked about Tarsia's gift for encouraging competition and cooperation among employees. Engineer Arthur Stoppe's photographs of staffers and stars were shown in a slide show set up next to the buffet table, where Tarsia and his wife Cecilia cut a 'Sigma's 50th' birthday cake. On Sunday, the former Sigma employees traded memories and told stories of the studio's glory days. While his guests reminisced over pasta and cannoli and signature sounds from Sigma's 1970s heyday, like the O'Jays' 'Love Train' and Bowie's 'Young Americans,' Tarsia was willing to admit - when pressed - that he deserved some measure of credit. Sigma - not me - has 200 gold and platinum records.' 'I was able to attract the best technicians, the best engineers,' Tarsia said. Tarsia thanked the accountant who helped him get a loan to go into business for himself and gave all credit to the Sigma vets gathered before him. Not even when the Sigma Sound Studios owner is hosting a reunion of former employees 50 years to the day since opening the recording studio that is synonymous with the Sound of Philadelphia.Īt a South Philly banquet hall on Sunday, the founder of the North 12th Street studio that served as home base to TSOP architects Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell and that attracted such out-of-towners as David Bowie and Stevie Wonder made a few brief remarks. (Photo: Arthur Stoppe/Courtesy of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia) Other iconic properties where artists helped fuel 20th-century music, such as Virtue Studios and Cameo Parkway, which was later bought by Philadelphia International Records, have been bought and sold. “But they should have our grateful thanks for what they do in ensuring this music can be preserved and enjoyed for generations to come.Don't ask Joe Tarsia to toot his own horn. “The students there are probably not even aware of the significance of what they are doing,” said Dave Moore, a music historian and Philadelphia soul expert who co-authored “There’s That Beat! Guide to the Philly Sound” with Jason Thornton. So far, students and Seay have listened to and digitized only about 10 percent of the music in the collection.

'The greatest lesson is that we are actually making a profit,' he said. Sigma Sound Recording Studio often used by Philadelphia International Records (c) SoulOfAmerica.

They pressed 5,000 albums, which he said sold out. Working with Vinyl Me, Please, which is a record subscription service, the students were able to produce the album on vinyl as well as digitally, lending a 1970s-era authenticity to the project. His students developed a marketing plan and a social media strategy. 'I wanted to put something out commercially that was viable, and that's where the archives come in,' said Marc Offenbach, a music industry veteran who now teaches at the university. She collaborated with Drexel to assemble it. The following year, Newman tracked down Jefferson on Facebook and got his permission to move forward with an album, Seay said. Reservoir's Faith Newman discovered more Nat Turner Rebellion tapes. In 2012, Reservoir Media Management acquired Philly Groove Records. It wasn't exactly simple getting the album together. Just the recognition for this.' At 75, he's the last surviving member of the group. 'There was not a thought in my mind that this could have happened,' Jefferson told the newspaper after the Nat Turner album's release.

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