Vance Powell

Last updated

Vance Powell is an American six-time Grammy Award winning record producer, engineer and mixer. [1] [2] His credits include Phish, Chris Stapleton, Jack White, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, The White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, Wolfmother, Deadly Apples, Seasick Steve, Black Prairie, The Revivalists, Tinariwen, JEFF the Brotherhood, Illiterate Light, [3] Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes, and Martina McBride, among many others. [4] [5]

Contents

Life and career

Powell made his start in live sound, touring with local Missouri bands as a front of house engineer. In 1986, he conducted his first professional studio recording session as an engineer at Rick Massey's 'Massey Studio', stepping in for the main engineer who was sick at the time. That same year he became the studio's engineer. [1] In 1990-'93 he took a position at Lou Whitney's Column One Studio in Springfield, MO. as second engineer, recording scores of regional bands and artists. Shortly after, Powell moved to Nashville, TN, accepting a position as a monitor engineer for Tammy Wynette. The position turned into Production Manager/Front of House (FOH) Engineer, which he did until 1997, when he joined global sound reinforcement company, Clair Brothers Audio. [6] [7]

In 1998, he started a long relationship with Jars of Clay; he took a front of house position that continued through 2002. During that time several recording projects with them emerged, including their full length 2002 release (and 2003 Grammy Award winner) "The Eleventh Hour". [6]

In early 2002, John McBride asked him to help build and run Blackbird Studio, a single room semi-private facility for his wife, country music superstar Martina McBride. [8] The single room semi-private facility soon became an eight-room world class facility hosting projects such as Neil Young's “Heart of Gold” motion picture soundtrack and The Dixie Chicks' six time Grammy Award-winning “Taking the Long Way”. [6] [9] Powell remained the Chief Engineer at Blackbird for seven years. [2]

Projects outside of Blackbird soon beckoned, and Powell began working extensively with Jack White's groups including The Raconteurs, The White Stripes, and The Dead Weather, as well as many of White's production jobs such as Wanda Jackson's "The Party Ain't Over", as well as Jack White and Alicia Keys' production of "Another Way to Die" from the James Bond film Quantum of Solace . [10] [11]

Powell is the co-owner of Sputnik Sound, a recording and mixing facility he set up in 2006 together with producer/engineer Mitch Dane. Powell met White for the first time in 2006, when he worked on Danger Mouse and Daniel Luppi's Rome album, on which White guested. [10] Recent Sputnik Sound projects include Phish, Tinariwin, Seasick Steve, Leagues, Bobby Bare, Jr., Red Fang, De Staat, Diarrhea Planet, A Thousand Horses, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Wolfmother, Arctic Monkeys and Chris Stapleton.

Awards

Powell has won four Grammy Awards for his work on the albums listed below. [4] [1] [10] [12]

In 2015, Chris Stapleton's album "Traveller" won three Country Music Association Awards (CMAs) including "Album of The Year" and "New Artist of The Year". The album also received Grammy nominations for Album Of The Year, Best Country Song, Best Country Album (win), Best Country Solo Performance (win). The album was engineered and mixed by Powell. [13] [14] [12]

Selected discography

The production, engineering and mixing discography for Vance Powell is as follows. [15]

YearArtistAlbumLabelProducer Engineer Mixer
2022 Chris Shiflett Long, Long YearEast Beach Records & Tapes
Yes check.svgY
2020 Phish Sigma Oasis [16] JEMP Records
Yes check.svgY
2018 Clutch Book of Bad Decisions Weathermaker Music
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
2015 Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown The WaysideVervatos/Republic
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
The Revivalists Men Amongst Mountains Wind-Up
Yes check.svgY
Chris Stapleton Traveller Mercury
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
JEFF the Brotherhood Wasted on the Dream Infinity Cat
Yes check.svgY
Elle King "America's Sweetheart" from Love Stuff RCA
Yes check.svgY
Seasick Steve Sonic Soul Surfer BMG
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
The Whistles & The Bells The Whistles & The Bells+180
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
2014 Tinariwen Emmaar ANTI-
Yes check.svgY
Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes Kid TigerDeer Head
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
Black Prairie FortuneSugar Hill
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
The Dirty Guv'nahs Hearts on FireSummertown
Yes check.svgY
Peter Bradley Adams The Mighty StormI Me Mine
Yes check.svgY
Bobby Bare, Jr. UndefeatedBloodshot
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
Dirk Powell Walking Through ClayBloodshot
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
2013 The Almost Fear Inside Our Bones Tooth & Nail
Yes check.svgY
Insane Clown Posse Forgotten Freshness, Vol. 5Psycopathic
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
Sturgill Simpson High Top Mountain High Top Mountain
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
De Staat I ConCool Green Records
Yes check.svgY
Seasick Steve Hubcap Music Third Man
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
Moon Taxi Mountains Beaches Cities BMG
Yes check.svgY
LeAnn Rimes Spitfire Curb
Yes check.svgY
Kings of Leon Live At The O2 (DVD)RCA
Yes check.svgY
Various ArtistsThe Great Gatsby O.S.T.Interscope
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
Caitlin Rose The Stand-In ATO
Yes check.svgY
Red Fang Whales and Leeches Relapse
Yes check.svgY
North Mississippi Allstars World Boogie Is ComingSongs of the South
Yes check.svgY
Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown Wild ChildCarved
Yes check.svgY
Leagues You Belong Here Bufalatone
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
2012 Jack White Blunderbuss Third Man
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
The Whigs Enjoy the CompanyNew West
Yes check.svgY
Keb' Mo' Keb Mo/Keep It SimpleSony
Yes check.svgY
Andrew Osenga Leonard, the Lonely Astronaut1010 Distribution
Yes check.svgY
Andrew Peterson Light for the Lost Boy Centricity
Yes check.svgY
Buddy Guy Live at LegendsRCA
Yes check.svgY
The KicksTonight Changes EverythingThe Kicks
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
PujolUnited States of BeingSaddle Creek
Yes check.svgY
2011 Red Fang Murder the Mountains Relapse
Yes check.svgY
Deadly Apples Petty
Yes check.svgY
Danger Mouse & Danielle LuppiRomeRome
Yes check.svgY
Chris Thile Sleep with One Eye OpenNonesuch
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
Wanda Jackson The Party Ain't Over
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
Bobby Bare, Jr. A Storm, A Tree, My Mother's HeadThirty Tigers
Yes check.svgY
Johnny Gimble Celebrating with FriendsCMH
Yes check.svgY
2010 The Whigs In the DarkATO/Red
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
Buddy Guy Living ProofJive
Yes check.svgY
The Dead Weather Sea of CowardsWarner Bros.
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
John Cowan The Massenburg SessionsKoch
Yes check.svgY
Karen Elson The Ghost Who WalksXL
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
Andrew Belle The Ladder101 Distribution
Yes check.svgY
The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights Warner Bros.
Yes check.svgY
HillsongYahwehEMI
Yes check.svgY
2009 The Dead Weather HorehoundIndependent
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
Seasick Steve Man from Another TimeRykodisc
Yes check.svgY
John Rich Son of a Preacher ManWarner Bros.
Yes check.svgY
Jars of Clay The Long Fall Back to EarthProvident
Yes check.svgY
Willie Nelson Willie and the WheelBismeaux
Yes check.svgY
2008 Jessica Simpson Do You KnowEpic
Yes check.svgY
Jewel Perfectly ClearValory
Yes check.svgY
Jack White & Alicia Keys "Another Way to Die" from Quantum of Solace O.S.T.Capitol
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
2007 Jars of Clay Christmas SongsNettwerk
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
The White Stripes ConquestWarner Bros.
Yes check.svgY
Caedmon's Call Overdressed Ino/Columbia
Yes check.svgY
2006Poor Rich FolkLove Is A BulletIndependent
Yes check.svgY
Yes check.svgY
Matt Dusk Back in TownDecca
Yes check.svgY
2005 Big & Rich Comin' to Your CityWarner/Reprise
Yes check.svgY

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Raconteurs</span> American rock supergroup

The Raconteurs are an American rock band from Detroit, Michigan, formed in 2005. The band consists of Jack White, Brendan Benson, Jack Lawrence, and Patrick Keeler (drums). Lawrence and Keeler were originally members of the Greenhornes, while White and Lawrence went on to become members of the Dead Weather.

<i>The Eleventh Hour</i> (Jars of Clay album) 2002 studio album by Jars of Clay

The Eleventh Hour is the fourth full-length studio album by the band Jars of Clay. It was released in 2002 by Essential Records and marked the band's first attempt at producing a full album by themselves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">49th Annual Grammy Awards</span> 2007 music awards

The 49th Annual Grammy Awards was a ceremony honoring the best in music for the recording year beginning October 1, 2005, and ending September 30, 2006, in the United States. The awards were handed out on Sunday, February 11, 2007, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Dixie Chicks were the night's biggest winners winning a total of five awards. Mary J. Blige received the most nominations, with eight. Don Henley was honored as MusiCares Person of the Year two nights prior to the show on February 9, 2007. The show won an Emmy for Outstanding Lighting Direction for VMC Programming.

Dave O'Donnell is an American record producer, engineer and mixer, known for his work with James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, Bettye LaVette, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, John Mayer, Lyle Lovett, Milton Nascimento, Keb' Mo' and Ray Charles.

<i>Consolers of the Lonely</i> 2008 studio album by The Raconteurs

Consolers of the Lonely is the second studio album by American rock band The Raconteurs. It was released on March 25, 2008, on Warner Bros. Records in most parts of the world, and a day earlier on XL Recordings in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">51st Annual Grammy Awards</span> 2009 award ceremony

The 51st Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, on February 8, 2009, honoring the best in music for the recording year beginning October 1, 2007, through September 30, 2008. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were the biggest winners of the night, winning five awards, including Album of the Year for their critically acclaimed album Raising Sand. Krauss became the sixth female solo artist to have won 5 awards in one night, joining Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, Beyoncé Knowles, and Amy Winehouse. Lil Wayne received the most nominations, with eight.

Jacquire King is an American record producer, recording engineer and mixer. King has worked with such notable artists as Kings of Leon, Tom Waits, James Bay, Kaleo, Modest Mouse, Shania Twain, Buddy Guy, Norah Jones, Of Monsters and Men, Cold War Kids, Punch Brothers, City and Colour, Robert Ellis, Dawes and others. His work has received more than 35 Grammy Award nominations to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Stapleton</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1978)

Christopher Alvin Stapleton is an American country singer-songwriter and guitarist. Born in Kentucky, Stapleton moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1996 to study for an engineering degree from Vanderbilt University, but dropped out to pursue a career in music. Shortly after, he signed a contract with Sea Gayle Music to write and publish his music.

Daniel Ellsworth and The Great Lakes (DE+TGL) is an American indie rock band originally formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2010. They are now living in separate cities: Los Angeles, Boston, and Columbus. The band consists of Daniel Ellsworth, Timon Lance (guitar), and Marshall Skinner (bass). The band tours extensively around North America and has released four studio albums, including two LPs and one EP: Kid Tiger, Civilized Man,Bemidji, and Fashion. Their two EPs are from an extended body of studio recordings, "Chapter One" and "Chapter Two." The acclaimed record "Fashion" was released in 2018, followed by a flurry of digital singles. Their new album, HIGH LIFE, is due out on February 16, 2024.

<i>Traveller</i> (Chris Stapleton album) 2015 studio album by Chris Stapleton

Traveller is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton. The album was produced by Dave Cobb and Stapleton, and was released on May 5, 2015, through Mercury Nashville.

Dave Cobb is a thirteen-time Grammy Award winning American record producer based in Nashville, Tennessee, best known for producing the work of Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, John Prine, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, The Highwomen, Take That, Rival Sons, and Zayn Malik, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">58th Annual Grammy Awards</span> Music awards ceremony

The 58th Annual Grammy Awards was held on February 15, 2016, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The ceremony recognizes the best recordings, compositions and artists of the eligibility year, which was from October 1, 2014, to September 30, 2015. The "pre-telecast" ceremony, officially known as the Premiere Ceremony, in which the majority of awards were presented, was held at the nearby Microsoft Theater. It was the 16th Grammy ceremony to be held at the Staples Center, tying the Shrine Auditorium, also in Los Angeles, for hosting the most Grammy ceremonies. It also marks the latest date for a Grammy ceremony since 2003, which was held on February 23.

The Whistles & the Bells is an American experimental alt-rock band based in Nashville, Tennessee, that serves as a moniker for singer-songwriter and producer Bryan Simpson. The band has released two full-length studio albums: The Whistles & the Bells in 2015, and Modern Plagues in 2017. Their music incorporates elements from rock, pop, folk, and electronic genres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">61st Annual Grammy Awards</span> 61st Annual Grammy Awards ceremony

The 61st Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held on February 10, 2019, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys hosted. During her opening monologue, Keys brought out Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Lopez, and former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, each of whom spoke about the impact that music had on their lives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitch Dane</span> Musical artist

Mitch Dane is an American record producer, musician, and songwriter who resides in Nashville. His work with artists include Jars of Clay, JJ Heller, Brandon Heath, Jetty Rae, Sonia Leigh, The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Young Fables, Ole Lonesome, Swearingen and Kelli, Kenny Foster and many others. He was awarded a Grammy for his work on Jars of Clay's 11th Hour, and nominated for Grammys for his work on four other albums. Dane also received ASCAP's "Most Played Song" award for "Nothing Without You" co-written with Bebo Norman. He owns the recording studio Sputnik Sound with Vance Powell.

<i>Help Us Stranger</i> 2019 studio album by The Raconteurs

Help Us Stranger is the third studio album by American rock band The Raconteurs. It was released on June 21, 2019, through Third Man Records, their first studio album in 11 years following Consolers of the Lonely (2008). The album was recorded at Third Man Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, and mixed at Blackbird Studios in Nashville. It was produced by the band, engineered by Joshua V. Smith, and mixed by Vance Powell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Tashian</span> American songwriter, producer, and musician

Daniel Tashian is an American songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He has spent ten years writing and producing for Big Yellow Dog Music.

<i>Sigma Oasis</i> 2020 studio album by Phish

Sigma Oasis is the fifteenth studio album by the American rock band Phish, released on the band's JEMP Records label on April 2, 2020. The album was recorded at their studio The Barn and was produced by the band and Vance Powell.

"I Bet You Think About Me" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift featuring harmony vocals from the American singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton. Swift wrote it with Lori McKenna in June 2011 and intended to include it on her fourth studio album, Red (2012). Although it did not make the cut, it was produced by Swift and Aaron Dessner for Red's re-recorded version, Red (2021). Republic Records and MCA Nashville released the song to US country radio on November 15, 2021.

“Cold” is a song by American singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton. It was released on September 25, 2020 as the second single from his fourth studio album Starting Over. At the 64th Grammy Awards, the song won the award for Best Country Song.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Vance Powell, GRAMMY® Winner for Best Engineered Album | Universal Audio". Uaudio.com.
  2. 1 2 "Vance Powell: Blackbird Studios, Jars of Clay, Wanda Jackson". Tapeop.com.
  3. "Illiterate Light Forge Forward in Dark Times". Spin.com.
  4. 1 2 "Vance Powell Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic .
  5. "Vance Powell Discography". Discogs.com.
  6. 1 2 3 "Black Bird Studios: Vance Powell". Pro.blackbirdstudio.com.
  7. "RSR002 – Vance Powell - Grammy Winning Production, Mixing, And Engineering At Sputnik Sound". Recordingstudiorockstars.com. September 18, 2015.
  8. [ dead link ]
  9. "Izotope Feature". Izotope.com.
  10. 1 2 3 "Inside Track: Jack White". Soundonsound.com.
  11. "Brite Revolution Interview". Briterevolution.com.
  12. 1 2 "Chris Stapleton". Grammy.com.
  13. "CMA Awards 2015 Recap: Chris Stapleton Takes Center Stage". Billboard .
  14. Hostelley, Laura HostelleyLaura (November 5, 2015). "Chris Stapleton Wins New Artist of the Year at 2015 CMA Awards". Taste of Country.
  15. "Vance Powell Credits and Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  16. "Sigma Oasis". Phish.com. Retrieved 2020-04-02.