Detroit’s legendary United Sound Systems studio up for sale for $1.5m

The historic United Sound Systems studios in Detroit – where legendary artists including the Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye recorded – is up for sale for $1.5m.

Built in 1916 and converted into studios in 1939 by Italian-American violinist and sound engineer James ‘Jimmy’ Siracuse, the property holds a special place in Detroit music history and was one of the city’s first independent recording studios.

Siracuse offered recording, transcription and production services for radio programmes, record companies and musicians in its early days, including families who made recordings to send to soldiers during World War Two.

The comprehensive list of artists who recorded here include: Jackie Wilson, Charlie Parker, John Lee Hooker, Aretha Franklin, the Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, the MC5, George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye. This building has been threatened with demo by a freeway expansion and in 2017, a Historical Marker was rightly placed in front of it. It’s now listed through Matt O’Laughlin at Alexander Real Estate for $1,500,000.

Check out the gallery below for more photos.