John Fry’s interest in electronics began in the late fifties, when he and a couple of friends started to record music in the garage at John’s home. Ardent Records was set up by the three schoolboys and issued four singles. When John left school he spent some time helping a friend build a radio station in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
In 1964, back in Memphis, he was persuaded to reactivate the label and two years later he was able to move the studio to a new location on National Street in the city. The garage equipment was initially used again in the new venue: an Altec tube console, an Ampex 2-track machine, a Pultec EQ and Neumann microphones. Over the next four years the equipment was up-dated several times to keep up with the latest technology available, featuring sixteen-track recording machines, larger consoles and Dolby noise reduction. Ardent Studios soon developed a reputation for reliable electronics, which attracted work from other studios in search of expert sound mixing.
Scully 280 4-track tape recorder, one of the early machines at Ardent
Photo: Katie, Memphis 2013 (Wikimedia Commons)
Whatever equipment Tom Dowd introduced at Stax, John Fry matched it at Ardent. In addition, Ardent’s reputation ensured that it was able to attract young engineers such as Terry Manning (one of Stax’s engineers), who shared John Fry’s passion for the technical side of music production. Al Bell called on Ardent Studios’ expertise for recordings by the Staple Singers, and Isaac Hayes, Booker T & the MGs, the Bar-Kays and Sam & Dave also came to Ardent. For a while prior to the closure of Stax, Ardent Records were distributed by Stax.
In 1971 the studio moved once more, to new premises on Madison Avenue in Memphis. The equipment was improved again, with twenty-four track machines, larger consoles and all the latest kit. The investment cleared paid off, as Ardent has attracted a host of big names to its recording studios. It now has over seventy gold or platinum discs to its name.
