[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 21, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E90]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF RECORD PRODUCER JOHN FRY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 21, 2015

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and 
accomplishments of Memphis record producer, John Fry. Fry, a son of 
Memphis, was an example of the innovation, creativity and daring that 
is uniquely Memphis, as embodied in such Memphians as Abe Plough, 
founder of Plough Inc. and creator of St. Joseph's aspirin for children 
and the Coppertone skin care line; Fred Smith, founder of Federal 
Express; Kemmons Wilson, founder of Holiday Inn; Clarence Saunders, 
founder of Piggly Wiggly--the first self service grocer; and Sam 
Phillips, the father of rock and roll and founder of Sun Studio and Sun 
Records--the recording home of Elvis Presley.
  Born on New Year's Eve in 1944, Fry became a well-known and respected 
member of the Memphis music community, having founded the Ardent record 
label in the late 1950s and early 1960s along with John King and Fred 
Smith. Ardent was a unique studio for the region that brought high 
technical standards to recording, which Fry used to father a multitude 
of music from rock and roll and punk to soul, power pop and gospel. 
Under his leadership, Fry helped launch the careers of local musicians 
and guide the works of others from around the country.
  John began recording music out of his family's garage in 1959 while 
he was still in high school. He committed to spending countless hours 
remodeling the space by building the equipment needed and inter-
connecting equipment that could not be built. Out of his self-made 
recording studio, he recorded and released singles that were favored by 
locals, including The Ole' Miss Downbeats' Slewfoot and The Hucklebuck. 
These were the first recordings for the Ardent label. In 1962 after 
graduating high school, Fry and a friend built a radio station in Pine 
Bluff, Arkansas, and in 1964, he worked with recording artist Jim 
Dickinson, who had also worked with Elvis and power pop singer Alex 
Chilton, to begin reviving the Ardent label.
  In 1966, Ardent Studios opened on National Street, where it stayed 
for five years before moving to its current location on Madison in 
Midtown Memphis. In its first four years, John invested in the studio, 
furnishing it with four- and sixteen-track equipment, outboard and 
Dolby noise reduction equipment. The technologically-advanced studio 
soon had a console that was the same make used by Stax Records, which 
enable Ardent to become a companion studio for Stax recording artists, 
including Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, the Bar-Kays, Sam and Dave 
and Albert King. Ardent also recorded albums for The Replacements, The 
Clits, The Scruffs and Elvis Presley.
  One band that was close to John's heart was Big Star. Made up of 
Memphians Chris Bell, Andy Hummel, Jody Stephens and lead singer/
songwriter Alex Chilton, Big Star recorded three albums at Ardent 
Studios--#1 Record, Radio City and Third--and viewed John largely as a 
mentor. John showed them ins and outs of the industry and drummer Jody 
Stephens commented that he was ``a person who could help you make your 
dreams come true.'' While Big Star received little national recognition 
at the time, over the next four decades, the group's three albums 
eventually were listed among Rolling Stone magazine's ``500 Greatest 
Albums of All Time'' and a variation of their song In The Street was 
used as the theme song for the popular Fox-TV sitcom, That 70s Show.
  In the late 70s, John began to focus more on the business side of 
Ardent Studios, but talents including Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top, R.E.M., Bob 
Dylan, Leon Russell, the Replacements, Freddie King, the Gin Blossoms 
and many others traveled to and recorded at the Memphis studio 
throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s. In 1995, John launched a Christian 
rock label, releasing 36 albums and receiving seven Grammy nominations 
from artists including Big Tent Revival, Skillet, Jonah33 and others. 
He also began operating Ardent as a learning ground for future award 
winning producers and engineers, including Jim Dickinson, Terry 
Manning, John Hampton and others.
  Today, Ardent Studios continue to attract musicians both local and 
national from all genres. Memphis rap group and Oscar winner Three 6 
Mafia has recorded at the studio as well as Memphis rapper, Al Kapone. 
Three Doors Down, the North Mississippi Allstars, the White Stripes and 
the Raconteurs are among the studio's roster of artists. Additionally, 
filmmakers for Hustle and Flow, Black Snake Moan and 40 Shades of 
Blue--all movies featuring and filmed in Memphis--went to Ardent 
Studios for recording their soundtracks. The studio has amassed 70 gold 
and platinum albums and singles.
  John Fry was a recording visionary and helped propel Memphis music 
and that of others from around the world to a higher level. His 
contributions to the industry are numerous and will continue to inspire 
future generations. In 2006, he said, ``If you acquire knowledge or 
skill or even wisdom, and you just keep it, then when you die, that 
dies with you. But if you share that with other generations--who in 
turn will share it and share it and share it--you're doing something 
that lasts.''
  John Fry passed away on December 18, 2014 in Memphis at 69 years of 
age, and is survived by his wife, Betty Fry. He and Betty were 
advocates for laws concerning humane treatment of animals, and they 
treasured and cared for horses, dogs and cats with the dignity that 
people who respect all life would. He will be remembered by all who 
came in contact with him and whose careers and success benefited from 
his mentorship. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing 
his life, accomplishments and contributions to American music. His was 
a life well-lived.

                          ____________________