By Andrew Chrisanthus
As a music industry professional with 20 years of experience in all facets of the industry, I have worked with multiple Grammy winners and Billboard charting artists. Working with a range of acts from Asleep at the Wheel to Lady Gaga and all things in between gave me a wide perspective on all things music. The years on the road as a Tour Manager provided me unique insight into the cities in which we performed as well.
I love to focus on the musical past & present of a city, in all its facets. The people, places, and things of these cities will help us explore the now and then. Let’s look at Los Angeles
The connection of music and architecture has been seen throughout human history, and that connection can be seen in Los Angeles in just a six mile stretch
On a sunny Hollywood afternoon we find The Capital Records Building. Built in 1956 as “The House That Nat Built” due to Nat King Cole’s enormous success for Capital Records, this modern marvel has become a Los Angeles icon. Though, in today’s digital age of music it is often overlooked that this building is still Capital’s world headquarters, and contains Capital Studios. The studios which are broken into three main recording areas also feature echo chambers engineered by Les Paul. Frank Sinatra may have made these studios famous, but the likes of Katy Perry, Beck and more still use them.
Just six miles down the road in bustling downtown L.A. we find a much newer architectural marvel well on its way to becoming a Los Angeles and musical icon. The Walt Disney Music Hall designed by famed architect Frank Gehry opened in 2004 to much acclaim. Housing the L.A. Philharmonic, it is the perfect match of sound and vision for this glorious hall. Along with yearly offering of world class classical music this beautiful building also offers a wide variety of performers. From Herbie Hancock, Art Garfunkel, and all the way to German KrautRock pioneers Kraftwerk , this world-class building is always filled with world-class music.
When you’re in L.A. you can pay both of these spectacular pieces of architecture, and holy houses of music a visit. The Capital Records building has a gift shop, offers tours by appointment and is best viewed at sunset. Walt Disney Music Hall offers year round programming at various ticket prices, as well as having its own gift shop, and looks different in all types of light, so pay it a visit anytime. Enjoy the architecture, enjoy the music, enjoy L.A.
