(November 2, 2022) He was often called the man who “was the Sound of Philadelphia,” for his key role in establishing the lush, soulful sound of the 1970s and 80s that came to be associated with the City of Brotherly Love. Today we mourn the passing of legendary recording engineer, Joe Tarsia.
Tarsia was an integral part of literally dozens of all-time pop and soul hits. He was the founder and owner of the iconic Sigma Sound Studios, where so many Philadelphia International Records #1 smashes by the O'Jays, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Patti LaBelle and more were recorded. Known for its clarity of sound, Sigma, with Tarsia on the boards, gave a new gravitas to soul music. As the great Tom Moulton (who posted an obituary on Facebook) said, “Joe gave Soul music the tuxedos to wear when the Philadelphia Sound was being created.”
(November 2, 2022) He was often called the man who “was the Sound of Philadelphia,” for his key role in establishing the lush, soulful sound of the 1970s and 80s that came to be associated with the City of Brotherly Love. Today we mourn the passing of legendary recording engineer, Joe Tarsia.
Tarsia was an integral part of literally dozens of all-time pop and soul hits. He was the founder and owner of the iconic Sigma Sound Studios, where so many Philadelphia International Records #1 smashes by the O'Jays, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Patti LaBelle and more were recorded. Known for its clarity of sound, Sigma, with Tarsia on the boards, gave a new gravitas to soul music. As the great Tom Moulton (who posted an obituary on Facebook) said, “Joe gave Soul music the tuxedos to wear when the Philadelphia Sound was being created.”
Tarsia began as a service technician for recording studios before becoming lead engineer at Philly’s fames Cameo Parkway Records in the early 1960s. He took that knowledge to open Sigma by the end of the decade, turning it into the “go to” studio for not only the PIR artists, but other pop and soul acts. He ultimately opened another location in New York City, which catered to such East Coast stars as Whitney Houston and Paul Simon.
As the new millennium arose, Tarsia sold his studios and cut back on his recording and lecturing. He was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2016.
Joe Tarsia quietly changed the musical world in ways not fully understood by general music fans, but certainly appreciated by all who have enjoyed the cornucopia of great songs on which he worked.