Norman Petty Studios

The Norman Petty Studio in Clovis, New Mexico, is a legendary landmark in rock and roll history, famous as the birthplace of the "Clovis Sound" and the studio where Buddy Holly and other early rock and roll legends recorded their biggest hits.

Norman Petty, a musician and record producer, built the studio in his hometown with proceeds from the Norman Petty Trio’s hit single "Mood Indigo" in the mid-1950s. Completed in 1956, it was considered state-of-the-art for its time, and its unique acoustics and Norman Petty’s innovative production techniques quickly attracted musicians from Texas and beyond.

The studio's most famous client was Buddy Holly, who, along with his band The Crickets, recorded the majority of his songs at the 7th Street location, including iconic hits like "That'll Be the Day" and "Peggy Sue". Petty served as Holly's manager and producer, shaping the raw rockabilly sound into polished, chart-topping records. Other artists who recorded hits there include Roy Orbison ("Ooby Dooby"), Buddy Knox ("Party Doll"), Waylon Jennings, The String-A-Longs ("Wheels"), and Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs ("Sugar Shack").

After Norman Petty's death in 1984, his wife Vi preserved the studio exactly as it was in the 1950s, a time capsule of early rock and roll history. It remains a pilgrimage site for music fans, offering appointment-only tours where visitors can see and touch the original instruments and equipment used by the legends.