Art Satherley | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Arthur Edward Satherley |
| Born | (1889-10-19)October 19, 1889 Bedminster,Bristol, England |
| Died | February 10, 1986(1986-02-10) (aged 96) Fountain Valley, California, US |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer,A&R |
| Years active | 1923–1952 |
| Labels | Paramount,Columbia |
Arthur Edward Satherley (October 19, 1889 – February 10, 1986)[1] was an American record producer andA&R man. Often calledUncle Art Satherley, he made major contributions to therecording industry and has been described as "one of the most important pioneers in the field ofcountry music production".[2]
Satherley was born inBedminster,Bristol, England, and in the1911 Census was recorded as working as a clerk in a rubber business.[3] He had a boyhood love of "cowboys andIndians", and traveled to the US in July 1913,[3] settling inWisconsin where he began work for alumber company inPort Washington. He was then employed in the furniture business, for several years working for the Wisconsin Cabinet and Panel Company, which in 1918 began makingphonographs. He also did secretarial work forThomas Edison. Satherley's work involved him in the manufacture ofshellacdiscs, and he became responsible for marketing records for theParamount company, selling discs byblues singers includingMa Rainey,Blind Lemon Jefferson andBlind Blake, initially atcounty fairs and other events, and then through advertising in regional newspapers.[4][5]
By 1923, Satherley started supervising Paramount recording sessions, working with Rainey, Jefferson and others and developing a reputation as atalent scout. After a short time withQRS, apiano roll manufacturer,[4] he joined theAmerican Record Corporation in 1929,[6] where he made the first commercial recordings ofLead Belly.[7] WhenColumbia Records bought ARC in 1938 he became head of their country and blues A&R departments. Among those he produced were country starsGene Autry – for whom he helped secure his first film work – theCarter Family,Vernon Dalhart,Bob Wills,Lefty Frizzell,Marty Robbins andRoy Acuff, and many blues musicians includingAlberta Hunter,Big Bill Broonzy,Josh White,Leroy Carr andMemphis Minnie.[5]
Satherley retired from Columbia in 1952, only undertaking occasional production work thereafter. He was elected to theCountry Music Hall of Fame in 1971, the first non-American citizen to be so honored.[2] He died inFountain Valley, California in 1986.[5]
In 2011, following many years campaigning, aBlue Plaque was unveiled close to his birthplace in Bristol. The ceremony was filmed and formed part of a short documentary broadcast byBBC Television on February 7, 2011, three days before the 25th anniversary of his death.[citation needed]
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