Notable New Mexicans

Norman Petty Studios

Norman Petty Studios

The Norman Petty Studios are one of New Mexico's best secrets. One of the birthplaces of Rock 'N' Roll, they are nestled on 7th Street and are miraculously preserved.

The 'Clovis Sound,' made popular by such greats as Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison, was created and recorded in Clovis at the Norman Petty 7th Street Studio. The original equipment is still in the studio, and a visit will take you back to the grand days of rock 'n roll.

The original Norman Petty Trio consisted of Norman and Vi Petty and a young guitar player named Jack Vaughn. The Trio soon became one of America's top vocal and instrumental groups, and with songs like 'Mood Indigo, soared into the pages of musical history.

Petty's golden ears helped dozens of popular country, rock, and pop musicians who recorded at the Norman Petty Studios - Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Buddy Knox, Waylon Jennings, Sonny West, Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs, Charlie Phillips, Jimmy Bowen, Johnny Duncan, Carolyn Hester, Chita Rivera, Brad Maule and many others.

Inside the studios the large dangling microphones, the old control board with big round knobs, the clocks on the walls, the Coke machine, and the furnishings look much as they did in the late fifties when Buddy Holly came to record.

Relive the Norman Petty legacy with a tour of the studio. You can hear original music recordings that will take you back to the 50s when it all happened.

The studio is located at 1313 West 7th Street. Tours need to be booked in advance - call the Chamber at 505-763-3435 for details. Open to the public during the Clovis Music Festival.