Suwannee Valley Times is distributed into the following cities and towns: Lake City, Live Oak, Madison, Branford, Dowling Park, Falmouth, Lee, Wellborn, Jasper, White Springs, Fort White, High Springs and Alachua

Full-service recording studio opens in Live Oak
Graffitti Studios – by musicians, for musicians

Graffitti Studios owner Robert Lansford, left, with partner, Jerry (Gerald) Guy sitting in the control room at the studio. -Photo: Submitted

By Tami Stevenson

Making music is a beautiful, passionate and down right fun adventure, and no one understands a musician quite like another musician. That’s one of the reasons Robert Lansford and Jerry Guy decided to expand their passion for music and helping fellow artists realize their goals and dreams, by opening a fully-loaded, professional recording studio in Live Oak.

Lansford purchased his first guitar when he was a teenager in Mexico for $10 and was hooked. Today, he decided to build Graffitti Studios and name it after his band, Graffitti Bridge, which plays mostly classic style rock/country crossover music for festivals and fairs. He partnered with Guy because of his expertise and life-long career in the music industry, both as a musician and sound engineer.

The newly opened studio is drawing the attention of local artists like Earl Green, founder of Mercy Mountain Boys, who today, pastors Lighthouse Christian Center in Mayo. Green said he went to the studio to re-cut a song he had done and was very pleased with the quality. “I would highly suggest that if artists in the surrounding area are looking for a good studio, to check out Graffitti Studios. I (know) you’ll be satisfied. It’s a quality product and a quality studio with great musicians.”

Green has known Guy for a number of years as he was Mercy Mountain Boys’ lead/steal guitar player. He knows his work ethic and his talent. “He is excellent in what he does. He was a studio musician in Nashville and played for some major artists and does a great job (engineering) sound.”

Guy began playing at the age of 13 and by the time he was in the 10th grade, at the age of 16, he was playing in bars and nightclubs. Known for his slide guitar, dobro and lead guitar work, Guy traveled the country for many years, working as a side-man for artists like Vern Gosden, The Hager Twins, Ronnie Milsap, Willie Nelson and others. During his years in Nashville as a studio musician, he learned the industry from the ground up.

“While I was a studio musician I went into the control room every chance I got. That’s where I got that knowledge. It’s imbedded,” said Guy.

After years of traveling, playing in nightclubs and bars, he decided to settle down and joined Countryside Christian Center in Clearwater, Florida, with the late Pastor John Lloyd. He became a part of their church band and television production team and remained there for eleven years before moving to Live Oak. Today, he plays with the music team at Lighthouse Christian Center in Mayo with Pastor Green.

Although Graffitti Studios is centered around musicians, and caters to all genres, including country, rock, blues, Christian, bluegrass, folk, etc., there are those that may want to record sermons, audio books or other things. The studio is glad to have them and can certainly meet their recording needs.

Their rates are reasonable and there are no set-up fees.

“What we mean by no set-up fees is we don’t start charging as soon as the client walks through the door. We get them set up and ready first. I don’t start the clock until I hit the button that says record,” said Guy.

Guy also owns a video recording company called Angel Video Productions, so they record and produce music videos as well at Graffitti Studios.

Anyone interested in recording or would like a tour of the facility, please call 386-205-1031 or 386-209-5814 to set up an appointment.

Their normal hours of operation are Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri., and Sat. from 9 a.m. ‘till? Wed. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Closed Sunday.

The studio is located off Nobles Fairy Road, approximately three miles from town at 6022 129th Road in Live Oak. Visit their website at https://www.graffittistudios.com.