Bob Blank is one of New York City's first indie-to-Grammy success stories.
Blank started out as a guitarist in New York in 1973 before producing
one of the first 12-inch disco records in 1975–Jimmy Sabater’s “To Be With
You.” A year later he opened his own Blank Tape studios and quickly
became an essential part for New York music history. He honed the freeform, anarchic visions of August Darnell,
Cristina and Lydia Lunch for ZE Records and, with producers Patrick
Adams and Greg Carmichael, helped shape the sound of many disco
classics. Musique, Inner Life, Instant Funk and Salsoul Orchestra all
recorded classics at Blank Tapes. Arthur Russell also recorded much of
his most celebrated disco-related output at the studios, and Latin
producer Tito Rodriguez recorded his Grammy nominated Charanga 76 and Eddie Palmieri albums with Blank.
On February 2, Strut Records, in collaboration with Bill Brewster and Frank
Broughton’s DJ History, released the first ever album retrospective of one of New York’s most revered producers. Featuring
the very first track ever recorded at the studio, Milton Hamilton’s “Crystalized,” and
lesser known Blank classics from the vaults, the record traces the history of his studio's reign during the 70s and 80s. The package also includes an extensive interview with Bob Blank about his
career in music, by Bill Brewster, alongside rare archive photos from
Blank’s personal archive.
