 |
 |
A new CityBeat article about the King Building; it seems that the story is really heating up. http://citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-33562-the_once_and_future_king.html forwarded by David N. Lewis Hamilton, OH On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 2:19 PM, Clark Johnsen <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Great articles, thanks. And good work on the architectural preservation > front! > > clark > > On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 2:01 PM, Eric Jacobs <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: > > > Some photos and stories of the building for context: > > > > http://rubbercityreview.com/2009/12/king-records-cincinnati/ > > > > > http://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/bootsy-collins-foundation-mayor-john-cranl > > ey-fighting-to-save-king-records-building-in-cincinnati > > > > http://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/13kingrecords.aspx > > > > http://local.cincinnati.com/share/story/207962 > > > > And a list of King Records artists: > > > > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Records_(United_States) > > > > > > > > Also, some good tips on how to document a building prior to demolition: > > > > > http://blog.preservationleadershipforum.org/2013/06/27/documentation/#.VfBx > > y2RViko > > > > > > I¹ve participated on some pre-demo building documentation projects for > the > > National Trust, doing detailed blueprints of the existing structure, and > > helping with the photography. If there are significant architectural > > elements, consider salvaging and storing them. Even if the building is > > ultimately saved, the documentation becomes an important part of the > > historical record. > > > > ~ Eric > > > > _________________________ > > > > Eric Jacobs > > Principal > > The Audio Archive, Inc. > > 1325 Howard Ave, #906 > > Burlingame, CA 94010 > > > > tel: 408-221-2128 > > [log in to unmask] > > > > Disc and Tape Audio Transfer Services and Preservation Consulting > > > > Please consider the environment before printing this email. > > > > > > > > > > On 9/9/15, 7:53 AM, "Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List on > > behalf of Gordon, Bruce J." <[log in to unmask] on behalf of > > [log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > > >Not sure if this is particularly helpful, but if it has not been done > > >already, a photographic record of the building might be a good idea just > > >in case things don't go well. It's being done for other, more ancient > > >landmarks in the face of imminent destruction, for instance: > > > > > >http://digitalarchaeology.org.uk/projects/ > > > > > >Best, > > > > > >-Bruce > > > > > >Bruce J. Gordon > > >Audio Engineer > > >Audio Preservation Services - a shared service of the Harvard Library > > >Harvard University > > >Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 > > >U.S.A > > >tel. +1(617) 495-1241 > > >fax +1(617) 496-4636 > > > > > >On Sep 7, 2015, at 10:31 PM, David Lewis > > ><[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote: > > > > > >ARSC-Listers, > > > > > >I'm not so sure how proper it is to email all of you with this special > > >interest, but we're running out of time. The developer that owns the > King > > >Records building at 1540 Brewster Avenue in Cincinnati has applied for a > > >permit to demolish it. Below I have provided some of the press releases > > >that have been issued by the Cincinnati Music Heritage Foundation and > the > > >Bootsy Collins Foundation to provide additional details. > > > > > >If you want to help, please write an email to the Mayor of Cincinnati > and > > >the Cincinnati Council Members listed below. Many of them are on board > > >with > > >the idea of saving the King Building, but I think letters received from > > >people outside of Cincinnati can provide a lot of ammunition to prevent > > >this landmark from being destroyed. It is a crucial place in the history > > >of > > >sound recording, and I'm sure all of you have heard sounds that were > made > > >in this building. > > > > > >Thanks in advance for helping out, > > > > > >David N. Lewis > > >Hamilton,OH > > > > > > > > > > > >[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> > > >[log in to unmask], > > >[log in to unmask], > > >[log in to unmask], > > >[log in to unmask], > > >[log in to unmask], > > >[log in to unmask], > > >[log in to unmask], > > >[log in to unmask], > > >[log in to unmask] > > > > > > > > >*#SaveKingOnBrewster #CivilRightsLandmark #SayItLoud* > > > > > >Let¹s not ignore the fact that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame dedicated > > >the > > >King Records Building (currently threatened with demolition) with a > > >historic landmark in 2008. > > > > > >When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame President Terry Stewart was asked > why > > >the King Brewster buildings should be saved, he provided the following > > >statement: > > > > > >*³Between 1943 and 1971 the address of 1540 Brewster Avenue in > Cincinnati > > >was home to some of the most vibrant and eclectic music making in > > >America. There was never a more important piece of real estate musically > > >or > > >culturally in the history of popular music. King brought together a > > >diverse range of American voices that reflect Cincinnati¹s unique > > >geographical position as a crossroads of American culture: rhythm and > > >blues, country, bluegrass, rockabilly, pop and blues records all poured > > >out > > >of King¹s studios. King¹s musical diversity was also reflected in its > > >business practices it was a fully ethnically and racially integrated > > >operation. King was also unique because it was a self-contained record > > >label. Every facet of record production happened at 1540 > BrewsterAvenue, > > >from recording to pressing to packaging to shipping. The Rock and Roll > > >Hall of Fame and Museum is proud to recognize the importance of King > > >Records by dedicating a historical marker and developing educational > > >materials to tell King¹s story to students in Ohio and around the > world.²* > > > > > >And at the evening¹s Emery Theater celebration as a part of the CEAs > Rock > > >Hall President Stewart said: > > > > > > *³It bears repeating and underscoringŠ There¹s not a more > > >important piece of real estate in musical history than the building over > > >there on Brewster. If you folks don¹t remember and preserve it, shame > on > > >you. Remember it! It is so important to American culture, world > cultureŠ > > >what happened in that building.²* > > > > > >*PLEASE ACT NOW!* The owner of the King Records Building, where the > studio > > >space still stands, has asked for a permit to demolish the building. > > > > > >The owner has also lawyered up to fight our application to make the > > >building safe and protected through a historic designation. We jointly > > >filed with The Bootsy Collins Foundation. At the pre-hearing the > Evanston > > >Community Council President and King Studios Chair spoke with us. > > > > > >We have tried to talk with the owner. We have tried since before we got > > >the historic marker up with The Rock Hall, the City, and the King/ music > > >community. With many of you. We have tried through realtors to get an > > >asking price. Something is up and we don't trust it. > > > > > >But let's nevermind and get this done. #SaveKingOnBrewster > > > > > >*PUBLIC HEARING - HISTORIC - CONSERVATION - BOARD* > > >Deciding fate of King Records Building - demolished vs. historic and > > >protected > > > > > >*Monday, 7/27/15, 3pm * > > >*II Centennial Plaza * > > >*Central behind City Hall* > > > > > >Historic Herzog pre-meeting > > >811 Race Street, 1:30pm > > > > > >This is it. If approved by Historic Conservation Board, then it goes > > >before > > >The Planning Commission, and if approved to the Mayor for Council > agenda. > > > > > >If you can't make send your testimony to The Urban Conservator Larry > > >Harris > > >[log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] Go to > > >Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation Facebook. We try to get word > out > > >as we can. We are all sweat equity and we run this non-profit as a > band. > > >Join us in this tune so it can be epic. Or we can suck. > > > > > >Cover letter to materials we submitted, including books, articles, the > > >historic designation report and guidelines: > > > > > > > > > > > >Mr. Larry Harris > > >Urban Conservator > > > > > >Historic Conservation Office > > >Two Centennial Plaza > > >805 Central Ave., Suite 700 > > >Cincinnati, OH 45202 > > > > > > > > > > > >May 3, 2015 > > > > > >To Mr. Harris and all concerned: > > > > > >Please designate the "1540 Brewster Avenue" King Records > buildings/parcels > > >historic according to City Code Chapter 1435-0505 and 1435-0507. > > > > > >Please protect these buildings and parcels in accordance with other > > >relevant municipal, township, state and federal law. Let us know how we > > >can > > >help. > > > > > >Please make top protection of what we see as the heart of the King > Record > > >building structures and parcels - the original King Studios space. The > > >former studio space needs to be rescued. The King Records building > > >structures where the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and City of Cincinnati > > >erected a historic marker in 2008 are in awful shape. > > > > > >The ones where I S Mechanical Systems operates a warehouse seem fine. > > > > > >The crumbling buildings where Cincinnati native Syd Nathan built the > > >recording studio remain in place. > > > > > >The crumbling buildings are where James Brown Productions operated, > > >simultaneously birthing funk and conceiving hip-hop. > > > > > >The crumbling buildings are where numerous historic records were made > and > > >released on many labels other than King, and featuring people like > Lonnie > > >Mack and Ruth Lyons. > > > > > >The crumbling buildings are where James Brown visited in the 1990s with > > >interest to save, but left in disgust at how bad it looked. They are far > > >worse now. > > > > > >The crumbling buildings are where the Stanley Brothers made history. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >In 2009, a unanimous Cincinnati City Council directed the City > > >Administration to take necessary steps to protect the buildings of the > > >1540 > > >Brewster King Records parcels. > > > > > >Please take all this into account in designating these Brewster Avenue > > >buildings historic. > > > > > >We propose an effort to protect the King Records legacy and support the > > >property owners at once. We ask that the parcels housing the building > > >structure of the studio space be treated as the most sacred and historic > > >part of all the former King Records buildings on Brewster. > > > > > >People want to stand there. Musicians like Chuck D and Bob Dylan would > > >record there. Read Chronicles, Volume 1 and listen to all the Public > Enemy > > >albums and you know. > > > > > >Get Danny Adler's 2015 release "Last Session On Brewster" - it proves > that > > >recording can still be made in the very spot where genres of American > > >music > > >including gospel, doo-wop, rockabilly, jazz made history!!! > > > > > >The Last Session on Brewster DVD also proves that these buildings are > > >crumbling and must be protected before they are lost. > > > > > >Saving these buildings from a demolition brought by bulldozer or decay > > >will > > >not only combat urban blight but will provide another international > > >attraction for the Queen City. It could be another Cincinnati > neighborhood > > >gateway to our region. > > > > > >Shouldn't the King Records studio buildings be the next Save Our Icon > > >problem to solve? > > > > > >When CMHF partnered and facilitated the Rock Hall, City of Cincinnati, > > >CEAs, Cincinnati State and Evanston neighborhood in 2008 some results > > >included a King Records historic marker, a Rock Hall King Records class, > > >and CEAs King Records celebration. There has been an ongoing voice for > > >King > > >Records as revitalization tool with the City and Evanston. > > > > > >Evanston is amidst wonderful revitalization efforts. The economic > > >opportunity for international tourism to Cincinnati with an operating > King > > >Records location should not be underestimated. Let's accelerate the > > >momentum by reopening Brewster Ave at Montgomery to the original King > site > > >and a monument on the corner. All the great grassroots and partnerships > > >around King in Evanston over the last several years can pay off. > > > > > >Factor in that Third Man Records rolled up to the King site and > > >instagrammed its pride in King. Third Man Studios announced it uses 1540 > > >Brewster King recording equipment to make new recordings. Let's arrange > > >Jack White with "I'm Shakin'" drummer and our hero Philip Paul jam > > >sessions > > >in the original spot. > > > > > >YouTube Kool Moe Dee at the King Records Marker. How about a hip-hop > > >concert featuring Kool Moe Dee on the street in front of King and I-71? > > > > > >The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame President Terry Stewart declared the King > > >buildings "the most important real estate in the history of pop > culture," > > >citing not only the music, but the business innovation, as well as a > > >culture that was way ahead of its time in that persons of different > races > > >and religions collaborated on all levels. In the The Emery Theater at > the > > >2008 CEAs and King Records 65th celebration, Rock Hall President Stewart > > >warned Cincinnati to not let the King buildings collapse during a show > > >which featured a re-united JB's and Dr. Ralph Stanley and His Clinch > > >Mountain Boys. > > > > > >Ultimately, kickstarting King Records on Brewster Avenue can provide a > > >transformative opportunity for us to embrace and take pride in our music > > >and civic history like never before. > > > > > > > > > > > >Let's re-open Brewster and Montgomery with statue of Mr. Syd Nathan > > >showing > > >us the way to King Records! > > > > > > > > >So, pursuant to the privilege granted to us as non-profits, The > Cincinnati > > >USA Music Heritage Foundation (CMHF) and the Bootsy Collins Foundation > > >(BCF), formally plea for this designation immediately, so that the > > >buildings are protected and a deserving path to restoration happens. > > > > > >With the protected status of a historic designation, BCF and CMHF pledge > > >ongoing leadership in partnering with the community, for which a strong > > >grassroots foundation has been built, for a truly deserving King Records > > >legacy and future. > > > > > >In accordance with City Code 1435-05 and 1435-07, our request addresses > > >the > > >mission of the historic conservation legislation because of the people, > > >culture, music, art, business, socio-economics and events associated > with > > >the former King buildings at 1540 Brewster Avenue. > > > > > > > > >Enclosed with this plea are books, articles, music and video resources > > >establishing why we should be King at 1540 Brewster. We will send and > > >advise the public to weigh in to the best of our ability. > > > > > >There is a growing list of community partners with BCF and CMHF which > > >includes King Studios, The Inclusion Network, Cincinnati State Technical > > >and Community College, Shake It Records, WCET/ThinkTV, Xavier > University, > > >Elementz, All Night Party, Cincinnati Playhouse, School for Creative and > > >Performing Arts, XU Radio with Lee Hay, Mr. Rhythm Man with WNKU, > Neltner > > >Small Batch, The Train Kept a-Rollin' Guitar Army and more. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >On The One, > > > > > > > > >Patti Collins > > >President and Co-Founder > > >Bootsy Collins Foundation > > >Co-Founder and Officer > > >Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation > > > > > > > > >Marvin Hawkins > > >President and Co-Founder > > >Cincinnati USA Music Heritage Foundation > > > > > >