BILL PORTER
Name: Bill Porter
Bill Porter is an American sound engineer who recorded such stars as Elvis
Presley and Roy Orbison through the 1960s and 1970s. He also did concert sound
for Elvis for seven years in the 1970s. In one week of 1960, his recordings
accounted for 15 of Billboard Magazine's "Top 100," a feat no one has ever
matched.
Working with legendary guitarist and producer Chet Atkins, Porter became the
engineer big name artists wanted to work with, and was influential in creating
the Nashville Sound. He recorded a total of 579+ chart records - 49 were top 10,
11 number ones, and 37 were certified gold records. Most were recorded at RCA's
Studio B in Nashville.
Porter recorded nearly all of Elvis Presley's number one hits upon his return
from his tour with the U.S. Army in 1960. Instead of the usual microphones
used by RCA Porter chose to use a Telefunken U-47 on Presley's voice. He
engineered "Are You Lonesome Tonight," "It's Now or Never," and "Suspiscious
Minds."
Porter left RCA in 1963 to manage the Monument studio where he then engineered
many of Roy Orbison's greatest hits during this time, including "It's Over," "Only
the Lonely," "Running Scared," the iconic ditty, "Oh, Pretty Woman." Boots
Randolph's "Yakety Sax" and Al Hirt's "Java" are other popular Porter recordings.
Porter traveled with Elvis Presley from 1969–1977 and recorded the Live in Las
Vegas shows.
Porter was the first sound engineer to be inducted into New York's Audio Hall of
Fame in 1989.
Name: Bill Porter
Bill Porter is an American sound engineer who recorded such stars as Elvis
Presley and Roy Orbison through the 1960s and 1970s. He also did concert sound
for Elvis for seven years in the 1970s. In one week of 1960, his recordings
accounted for 15 of Billboard Magazine's "Top 100," a feat no one has ever
matched.
Working with legendary guitarist and producer Chet Atkins, Porter became the
engineer big name artists wanted to work with, and was influential in creating
the Nashville Sound. He recorded a total of 579+ chart records - 49 were top 10,
11 number ones, and 37 were certified gold records. Most were recorded at RCA's
Studio B in Nashville.
Porter recorded nearly all of Elvis Presley's number one hits upon his return
from his tour with the U.S. Army in 1960. Instead of the usual microphones
used by RCA Porter chose to use a Telefunken U-47 on Presley's voice. He
engineered "Are You Lonesome Tonight," "It's Now or Never," and "Suspiscious
Minds."
Porter left RCA in 1963 to manage the Monument studio where he then engineered
many of Roy Orbison's greatest hits during this time, including "It's Over," "Only
the Lonely," "Running Scared," the iconic ditty, "Oh, Pretty Woman." Boots
Randolph's "Yakety Sax" and Al Hirt's "Java" are other popular Porter recordings.
Porter traveled with Elvis Presley from 1969–1977 and recorded the Live in Las
Vegas shows.
Porter was the first sound engineer to be inducted into New York's Audio Hall of
Fame in 1989.