Number 9 Audio Group
Encyclopedia
Number 9 Audio Group is a recording studio located in the Cabbagetown area of Toronto
, Canada
at 222 Gerrard Street East. Number 9 is perhaps most notable for producing the World Jazz For Haiti charity album in 2010, appearing on Much Music's DISBAND in 2008, and for recording Canadian acts such as the Barenaked Ladies
and Amanda Marshall
in the 90s, while they were still emerging artists.
. The recording studio is currently housed with a renovated Victorian building, featuring two live rooms, a single control room and small production lab. In 2010, Number 9 Audio Group was profiled by Canadian Musician
magazine due to its long history in the Canadian music industry.
As business picked up George formed a partnership with Jim Zolis to further grow the studio. They switched locations to a basement studio on Jarvis street in Toronto, in order to better serve their increasingly metropolitan clients. Throughout the 80s and 90s Number 9 welcomed artists such as Jane Siberry, Amanda Marshall
, The Nylons
, The Waltons
, Barenaked Ladies
, Jeff Healey
and Andrew Cash through their doors.
and Gold Records - the two partners decided to go their separate ways in 1996. George went on to build the business that is now known as Number 9 Audio Group, while Jim founded his own company entitled Zolis Audio Productions.
The business continued to flourish throughout the 90s and 2000s, working with an eclectic mix of clients including Van Morrison
, Duran Duran
and The Rolling Stones
. In 2006 the studio moved into a new location; a renovated Victorian home in the core of downtown Toronto, which it occupies to this day.
frontman Greg Nori. Although the recording session was a success, Karamel received a "thumbs down" from the disBand jury at the episode's climax.
to produce the World Jazz For Haiti charity album. Over the course of six months the duo recorded a variety of Canadian talent at Number 9 Audio Group, including John McDermott
, Holly Cole
, David Clayton-Thomas
and many more. After months of hard work the album was released at a fundraiser event at Hugh's Room in Toronto. All profits from the album sales and release party went towards the Red Cross' disaster relief fund.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
at 222 Gerrard Street East. Number 9 is perhaps most notable for producing the World Jazz For Haiti charity album in 2010, appearing on Much Music's DISBAND in 2008, and for recording Canadian acts such as the Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
and Amanda Marshall
Amanda Marshall
Amanda Meta Marshall is a Canadian pop-rock singer.She grew up in Toronto in a biracial family to a White Canadian father and a Black Trinidadian mother...
in the 90s, while they were still emerging artists.
History
Number 9 Audio Group was founded in 1981 by George Rondina, who continues to operate the studio to this day. The title of the studio is a nod towards the Beatles' Revolution 9Revolution 9
"Revolution 9" is a recorded composition that appeared on The Beatles' 1968 self-titled LP release . The sound collage, credited to Lennon–McCartney, was created primarily by John Lennon with assistance from George Harrison and Yoko Ono. Lennon said he was trying to paint a picture of a revolution...
. The recording studio is currently housed with a renovated Victorian building, featuring two live rooms, a single control room and small production lab. In 2010, Number 9 Audio Group was profiled by Canadian Musician
Canadian Musician
Canadian Musician is a Canadian magazine that is published bi-monthly by Norris-Whitney Communications Inc. Published since 1979, the magazine's primary area of interest is to profile Canadian musicians and musical events. The magazine also writes articles on the Canadian music business and...
magazine due to its long history in the Canadian music industry.
Beginnings (Number 9 Sound Studios)
After touring extensively as a keyboardist during the 1970s, George Rondina decided to make a career change to producer/engineer. He took $500 of his savings and opened up the first incarnation of Number 9 Sound Studios in the back of a local record shop. The studio grew quickly and took on a variety of clients from the Toronto area.As business picked up George formed a partnership with Jim Zolis to further grow the studio. They switched locations to a basement studio on Jarvis street in Toronto, in order to better serve their increasingly metropolitan clients. Throughout the 80s and 90s Number 9 welcomed artists such as Jane Siberry, Amanda Marshall
Amanda Marshall
Amanda Meta Marshall is a Canadian pop-rock singer.She grew up in Toronto in a biracial family to a White Canadian father and a Black Trinidadian mother...
, The Nylons
The Nylons
The Nylons are an a cappella group founded in 1978 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Best known for their covers of The Turtles' "Happy Together", Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye", and The Tokens' version of the traditional "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"....
, The Waltons
The Waltons
The Waltons is an American television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr., based on his book Spencer's Mountain, and a 1963 film of the same name. The show centered on a family growing up in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and World War II. The series pilot was a television...
, Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
, Jeff Healey
Jeff Healey
Norman Jeffrey "Jeff" Healey was a blind Canadian jazz and blues-rock vocalist and guitarist who attained musical and personal popularity, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s.-Early life:...
and Andrew Cash through their doors.
Number 9 Audio Group
Although the studio had gained great popularity by the mid 90s - earning multiple JunosJunos
Juniper Junos is the software or the network operating system used in Juniper Networks hardware systems. It is an operating system that is used in Juniper's routing, switching and security devices. Juniper offers a Software Development Kit to partners and customers to allow additional customization...
and Gold Records - the two partners decided to go their separate ways in 1996. George went on to build the business that is now known as Number 9 Audio Group, while Jim founded his own company entitled Zolis Audio Productions.
The business continued to flourish throughout the 90s and 2000s, working with an eclectic mix of clients including Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
, Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
and The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
. In 2006 the studio moved into a new location; a renovated Victorian home in the core of downtown Toronto, which it occupies to this day.
disBAND
On Monday August 25, 2009, Much Music came to Number 9 to film an episode of their popular show disBAND. The featured band for the episode was pop duo Karamel, who recorded with head engineer Bernie Cisternas with the assistance of Treble ChargerTreble Charger
Treble Charger was a Canadian rock group, consisting of vocalist Greig Nori, bassist Rosie Martin and drummer Trevor MacGregor. Guitarist Bill Priddle, a founding member of the band, left in 2003. They began with a melodic indie rock style, but evolved into more of a pop punk band after signing to...
frontman Greg Nori. Although the recording session was a success, Karamel received a "thumbs down" from the disBand jury at the episode's climax.
World Jazz For Haiti
Following the disastrous Haitian earthquake in 2010, George Rondina worked in tandem with producer/musician George KollerGeorge Koller
George Koller is a Canadian bassist and multi-instrumentalist who has played professionally and extensively within most genres of music and is best known for his work in jazz, free jazz, folk music, world music and world fusion...
to produce the World Jazz For Haiti charity album. Over the course of six months the duo recorded a variety of Canadian talent at Number 9 Audio Group, including John McDermott
John McDermott
John McDermott may refer to:*John McDermott , American athlete*John McDermott , former Grimsby Town footballer*John McDermott , former Meath Gaelic footballer*John McDermott , British boxer...
, Holly Cole
Holly Cole
Holly Cole is a Canadian jazz singer, particularly popular in Canada and Japan for both her versatile and distinctive voice, along with her adventurous repertoire, which spans such divergent genres as show tunes, rock, and country music.-Holly Cole Trio:In 1983, Cole travelled to Toronto to seek a...
, David Clayton-Thomas
David Clayton-Thomas
David Clayton-Thomas is a Canadian musician and singer best known as the lead vocalist for the American band; Blood, Sweat & Tears...
and many more. After months of hard work the album was released at a fundraiser event at Hugh's Room in Toronto. All profits from the album sales and release party went towards the Red Cross' disaster relief fund.