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Arts & Culture

SOUNDBREAKING: The Recording Artist

Sly Stone is one of more than 150 artists featured in the SOUNDBREAKING series airing on PBS in November.
Courtesy of © Sly Stone photos: Warren Paul Harris ‐ Dallas, Texas
Sly Stone is one of more than 150 artists featured in the SOUNDBREAKING series airing on PBS in November.

Airs Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV

The Series Features Over 150 Artists

SOUNDBREAKING: STORIES FROM THE CUTTING EDGE OF RECORDED MUSIC is an eight-episode PBS series that explores the extraordinary impact of recorded music on the modern world.

Soundbreaking | Trailer

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"The eight-part series explores the art of music recording

The series was the last project produced by legendary music producer Sir George Martin, who passed away on March 8, 2016.

George Martin and The Beatles.
Courtesy of © Apple Corps Ltd.
George Martin and The Beatles.

The series combines unprecedented access to some of the most celebrated artists, producers and innovators from across the music spectrum, with rare archival studio footage and an extensive soundtrack, to deliver one of the most wide-ranging series on the art of music recording.

Historic archival footage from Abbey Road Studios of Beatles fame.
Courtesy of Abbey Road Studios
Historic archival footage from Abbey Road Studios of Beatles fame.

Charting a century’s worth of innovation and experimentation in the creation of music, SOUNDBREAKING offers a behind-the-scenes look at the birth of new sounds.

From the invention of the microphone to the Moog synthesizer, from the phonograph to digital streaming, the series moves between past and present to tell the stories behind the sounds and reveals how innovation redefined not only what we listen to and how we listen to it, but our very sense of what music is and can be.

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Viewers of all ages will hear the songs they love in a whole new way.

Johnny Cash with a long black coat and guitar case.
Courtesy of Andy Earl
Johnny Cash with a long black coat and guitar case.

Episode 1: "The Recording Artist" - Explore the role of the music producer tasked with turning an artist's vision into a hit and view the contrasting styles of some of the most accomplished producers.

Featuring George Martin, Sam Phillips, Tom Petty, Dr. Dre and more.

Dr Dre at sound board in recording studio mixing portrait NWA.
Courtesy of © Neal Preston
Dr Dre at sound board in recording studio mixing portrait NWA.

WATCH ON DEMAND:

Only clips from the series are available to view on demand.

Each SOUNDBREAKING episode was made available for next-day digital purchase following its broadcast via multiple platforms including iTunes, Amazon Video, Vudu, Hulu, Google Play, Microsoft Movies & TV and Sony Interactive Entertainment.

The series is available on DVD and Blu-ray at ShopPBS.org. The hardcover book is also available for purchase.

CONNECT:

SOUNDBREAKING is on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and you can follow @soundbreaking on Twitter. #Soundbreaking

This series premiered on KPBS in November 2016.