Stan Ross, a producer and engineer who co-founded Gold Star studios, famed for its 'Wall of Sound'
Stan Ross, who co-founded Hollywood’s Gold Star Recording Studio, where producer Phil Spector perfected the innovative “Wall of Sound” technique, has died. He was 82.
Ross died Friday at Providence St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Burbank of complications following surgery, his family said.
More than 100 Top 40 hits were recorded at Gold Star, including such Spector-produced records as “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” by the Righteous Brothers and “Be My Baby" by the Ronettes.
Other hits recorded at the modest building at Santa Monica Boulevard and Vine Street included Ritchie Valens' “La Bamba,” Eddie Cochran's “Summertime Blues” and Iron Butterfly’s “Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida.” The Beach Boys also recorded most of their records there.
“Stan was born with a musical ear,” said David Gold, who co-founded Gold Star with Ross when both were barely out of their teens. “He would come up with ideas for people who were recording, things that had never been tried before.”
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Sinai Hollywood Hills, 5950 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles.
A full obituary will follow at latimes.com/obits.
-- Valerie J. Nelson
Photo: The founders of Gold Star Recording Studios: David Gold, left, with Stan Ross, who died Friday.
Actually, only "Pet Sounds" was produced at Gold Star, with Stan implementing that "saw" sound on Good Vibrations. He also produced "Tequila" by the Champs. He recorded virtually all of Sonny and Cher's early hits, before turning the reins over to his cousin, Larry Levine.
RIP Stan; you were one of a kind.
Posted by: BG Rhule | 03/14/2011 at 06:04 PM
Godspeed, Stan...now who can we call?
Posted by: rumblestrip | 03/14/2011 at 09:32 PM
Deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr Ross. God Bless.
Posted by: Bonnie Schoonmaker | 03/15/2011 at 06:17 AM
By working at Monarch Records mfg in the seventies, I met Stan through business. Every week he would come over to check on the pressing of his records and I got to know him. Never knew how important he was to the music business until the fire occured that burned down Golstar.
Posted by: Jerry | 03/15/2011 at 06:23 AM
thanks Mr. Ross for all the great music you and your partner helped create for a generation... gods speed !!!
Posted by: robert | 03/15/2011 at 01:50 PM
The Stones recorded here too.
Posted by: Bill | 03/15/2011 at 07:14 PM
Stan meeting you at the age of 12 and later being your brother-in-law you have been a good friend to me. You will be missed.
Posted by: SAM SCHULTZ | 03/16/2011 at 05:24 PM
Thank you for the wonderful "Wall Of Sound", Stan Ross! I just love all those records so very much. Those sounds are lengendary L.A.! My condolences to his family.
Posted by: JB GOODE | 03/17/2011 at 12:13 AM