
This year holds a special place in our history as it marks over a quarter of a
century of making great records. We've been operating in the same location
as one of San Francisco's premiere recording facilities for 28 years, but
in fact the building nestled in the tenderloin district at 245 Hyde street
has a history of making records that dates all the way back to the late 1960s,
during the dawning of one of the most influential time periods of rock and
roll.
Back in those the days the studios belonged to Wally Heider, a pioneer in
the music industry renowned for helping to create the high standards of the
professional recording industry, standards that still hold true today. His
dedication to the artists that recorded in his studios and his insistence
of acquiring top-notch equipment quickly earned the studios located at 245
Hyde Street the reputation as the place to be. Many legendary acts such as
the Grateful Dead, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Creedence Clearwater Revival,
Herbie Hancock, Santana, James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, and Jefferson Airplane,
to name just a few, have recorded timeless albums in Wally Heider's studios.
In 1980 the business changed hands and was purchased by Michael Ward and his
partners, who reopened the rooms as Hyde Street Studios. A few years later
the partnership broke up and Michael became the sole proprietor, striving
to maintain the same dedication and determination to making exceptional sounding
records as his esteemed predecessor who had so influenced the musical community.
To this day, 28 years after Wally Heider's departure and 38 years after the
recording began, Michael Ward still owns Hyde Street Studios and still strives
to provide an atmosphere that can live up to the highest standards of quality.
We've tried our best to continue the legacy and are honored to have worked
with such talented artists as George Clinton, Tupac Shakur, Joe Satriani,
Chris Isaak, Chrissie Hynde, Willie Nelson, Cake, Spearhead, Green Day, and
many others.
We at Hyde Street Studios feel as though the musical community has recognized
our earnestness and has rewarded us with many years of business. The gold
and platinum records on our walls are here because of the artists that have
allowed us to help create them. We hope to continue this tradition while also
continuing to work within the budgets of the local artists.