Sigma Sound Studio Records, 1960-2011
Collection ID
SCRC 212
Related Subjects
Collecting Areas
Description
Collection Summary
Title
Sigma Sound Studio Records
Dates
1960-2011, bulk 1970-2000
Modified 1996
Collection ID
SCRC 212
Creator
Sigma Sound Studios (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Quantity
2.25 Linear feet (6 boxes)
0.001 Gigabytes (2 digital files)
Repository
Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries
Language
Materials in English and Japanese.
Detailed Collection Information
Historical Note
Sigma Sound Studio was a recording studio established in Philadelphia by Joe Tarsia (1934-2022) in 1968. Its Philadelphia office was located at 212 N. 12th St., and that location's work included Philadelphia Sound artists, including Gamble and Huff's International Records. Tarsia opened a branch in New York City, which was active during the late 1970s to the mid-1980s. Tarsia sold the business in 2003.
Description of Collection
The Sigma Sound Studio Records includes photographs and slides depicting the two studios, including some snapshots with studio engineers and recording artists dating from the 1960s to the 1990s. The collection also contains advertising and promotional materials, newspaper and magazine clippings, and a small group of collected ephemera and publications. The clippings, ephemera, and publications all list or feature Sigma, Tarsia, and/or affiliates. Advertising and promotional materials for “AddZest” are primarily in Japanese.
Organization and Arrangement
The collection is arranged according to genre, with photographs and negatives being the first and largest group presented. Following, researchers will find advertising and promotional materials, a very small selection of miscellaneous studio records, and clippings. There are also publications and ephemera collected by Tarsia, often featuring Tarsia or Sigma Studios.
Patron Information
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Temple University’s online library catalog: https://librarysearch.temple.edu/catalog/991036840591903811
Research Access
Collection is open for research.
Collections Stored Off-Site
This collection may be housed off-site at the Library Depository, and require up to two business days to retrieve. Please review the finding aid and be prepared to identify specific materials to be retrieved. Contact the Special Collections Research Center in advance of your visit, so that materials may be relocated to the reading room for research.
Technical Access
Digital records on storage media may not be used. Digital records in this collection have been migrated to a library server and digital use copies can only be accessed onsite in the SCRC reading room. Certain digital files may be inaccessible due to the lack of required software. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.
Publication and Copyright Information
The Sigma Sound Studio Records are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.
Preferred Citation
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Sigma Sound Studio Records, SCRC 212, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Related Material
Sigma Sound Studios Collection, Drexel University Audio Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Title
Sigma Sound Studio Records
Dates
1960-2011, bulk 1970-2000
Modified 1996
Collection ID
SCRC 212
Creator
Sigma Sound Studios (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Quantity
2.25 Linear feet (6 boxes)
0.001 Gigabytes (2 digital files)
Repository
Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries
Language
Materials in English and Japanese.
Detailed Collection Information
Historical Note
Sigma Sound Studio was a recording studio established in Philadelphia by Joe Tarsia (1934-2022) in 1968. Its Philadelphia office was located at 212 N. 12th St., and that location's work included Philadelphia Sound artists, including Gamble and Huff's International Records. Tarsia opened a branch in New York City, which was active during the late 1970s to the mid-1980s. Tarsia sold the business in 2003.
Description of Collection
The Sigma Sound Studio Records includes photographs and slides depicting the two studios, including some snapshots with studio engineers and recording artists dating from the 1960s to the 1990s. The collection also contains advertising and promotional materials, newspaper and magazine clippings, and a small group of collected ephemera and publications. The clippings, ephemera, and publications all list or feature Sigma, Tarsia, and/or affiliates. Advertising and promotional materials for “AddZest” are primarily in Japanese.
Organization and Arrangement
The collection is arranged according to genre, with photographs and negatives being the first and largest group presented. Following, researchers will find advertising and promotional materials, a very small selection of miscellaneous studio records, and clippings. There are also publications and ephemera collected by Tarsia, often featuring Tarsia or Sigma Studios.
Patron Information
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Temple University’s online library catalog: https://librarysearch.temple.edu/catalog/991036840591903811
Research Access
Collection is open for research.
Collections Stored Off-Site
This collection may be housed off-site at the Library Depository, and require up to two business days to retrieve. Please review the finding aid and be prepared to identify specific materials to be retrieved. Contact the Special Collections Research Center in advance of your visit, so that materials may be relocated to the reading room for research.
Technical Access
Digital records on storage media may not be used. Digital records in this collection have been migrated to a library server and digital use copies can only be accessed onsite in the SCRC reading room. Certain digital files may be inaccessible due to the lack of required software. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.
Publication and Copyright Information
The Sigma Sound Studio Records are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.
Preferred Citation
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Sigma Sound Studio Records, SCRC 212, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Related Material
Sigma Sound Studios Collection, Drexel University Audio Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Donated by Joe Tarsia, 2011 and 2013.
Processing Information
Collection processed and finding aid prepared in December 2015 by Courtney Smerz, Collection Management Archivist. Digital records processed and finding aid revised in October 2022 by Jessica M. Lydon, Associate Archivist.
Index Terms
The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in Temple University’s electronic catalog:
Personal/Family Names:
Gamble, Kenny
Huff, Leon
Tarsia, Joseph, 1934-
Tarsia, Michael
Corporate Names:
Sigma Sound Studios (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Philadelphia International Records
Subjects:
Sound recording industry
Sound studios
Places:
Philadelphia (Pa.)
New York (N.Y.)
Material Types:
Architectural drawings
Books
Born digital
Clippings
Printed ephemera
Floppy disks
Negatives
Periodicals
Photocopies
Photographs
Publications (documents)
Slides
Souvenir programs
Inventory
1 1 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff and/or artists 1960s, 1970s
1 2 Photographs. Studio, New York and Philadelphia 1970s-1981, undated
1 3 Photographs. Studio, people, and events, including Joe Tarsia and Gamble and Huff undated (1970s-1990s)
1 4 Photographs. Studio undated (1980s-1990s)
1 5 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff 1980s
1 6 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff undated (circa 1980s, 1990s)
1 7 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff and/or artists undated (circa 1980s-1990s)
1 8 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff and/or artists undated, 1990s
1 9 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff and/or artists undated, 1990s
1 10 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff and/or artists undated (circa 1990s)
1 11 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff and/or artists undated (circa 1990s)
1 12 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff undated
1 13 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff undated
1 14 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff and/or artists (contact sheets only) undated
2 1 Photographs. Studio and events 1990s, undated
2 2 Photographs. Joe Tarsia, including snapshots with other people 1960s-1990s
6 1 Photographs. Joe Tarsia; "MFSB (Mother, Father, Sister, Brother) (photocopy) undated
2 3 Photographs. Artists in the studio undated (1970s-1980s)
2 4 Photographs. Artists in the studio undated (1970s-1980s)
2 5 Photographs. Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff 1968, undated
2 6 Photographs. Events undated (1980s-1990s)
2 7 Photographs. Artists headshots, some autographed undated
2 8 Photograph. Frank Rizzo posing with the Jackson Five in 1976 or 1977 (copy) undated
2 9 Photographs. Chubby Checker receiving Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame Award undated
2 10 Photographs. Unidentified musical act (not in studio) circa 1980s
2 11 Negatives, including contact prints. Studio 1984, undated
2 12 Negatives, including contact prints. Studio, including with artists 1980s, undated
2 13 Negatives. Studio, including with studio staff 1980, 1993, undated
2 14 Negatives. Studio, including with studio staff and artists 1990s, undated
2 15 Negatives. Studio undated
2 16 Negatives. Studio, including with studio staff undated
2 17 Negatives. Studio, including with studio staff
2 18 Negatives. Studio, including with people, and events undated
2 19 Negatives and contact sheets. Events 2000?, undated
3 1 Negatives. Unidentified 1980s-2000s
3 2 Slides. Studio 1978-1981
3 3 Slides. Studio 1997, undated
3 4 Advertisements and promotional materials 1999, undated
6 2 Advertisements and promotional materials 1987
3 5 Advertisements and promotional materials 1987, 1996, 1997, undated
3 6 Advertisements and promotional materials. AddZest (English and Japanese) undated (circa 1990s)
3 7 Advertisements and promotional materials. AddZest, product catalogs (English and Japanese) 1990s
3 8 Advertisements and promotional materials. AddZest, product catalogs (English and Japanese) 1990s
6 3 Advertisements and promotional materials. AddZest, product catalogs (English and Japanese) 1990s
6 4 Advertisements and promotional materials. AddZest, product catalogs (English and Japanese) 1990s
3 9 Advertisements and promotional materials (2 3.5-inch floppy disks) undated
Digital Folder(s) 1 Advertisements and promotional materials. Sigma Sound logo and McSorley Kery Design ad 1996
4 1 Architectural plans 1994, undated
6 5 Awards 1971, 1989, undated
4 2 Correspondence 1991-2002
4 3 Ephemera, invitations and greeting cards sent by Sigma 1979, 1980, undated
4 4 Lists of Hit Records 1994, 1996, undated
4 5 "Playback," newsletter 1998
4 6 Publicity report 1990-1993
6 6 "Recording Hits Since '68," ten year anniversary publication 1978
4 7 "Sigma Sound: Past and Present" after 1995
4 8 Studio histories and recollections 2002, undated
6 7 Clippings, articles by Joe or Michael Tarsia 1980, 1990-1999
6 8 Clippings 1973, 1988-1996, undated
4 9 Clippings (includes some photocopies) 1977-1999, undated
4 10 Clippings (includes some photocopies) 1977-2010, undated
4 11 Clippings (includes some photocopies) 1981-2003, undated
4 12 Clippings (includes some photocopies) 1992-2011, undated
4 13 Clippings, including one clipping about Joseph and Rose Tarsia, Joe Tarsia's parents 1970-2003, undated
4 14 Publications and ephemera. Black Music Association. "Philadelphia Music Makers, A Celebration of Commerce and Culture…" 1985
4 15 Publications and ephemera. Black Music Association. "A Tribute to the Greatest Love, The Linda Creed Memorial Scholarship Fund Benefit Concert" and other records 1987-1988
4 16 Publications and ephemera. Euphony: Harrison's Journal of Good Sound 1981
5 1 Publications and ephemera. The Grammy Awards program 1995, 1997
5 2 Publications and ephemera. The Grammy Awards program 1999
5 3 Publications and ephemera. Mix 1997, 1999, 2007
5 4 Publications and ephemera. Supplement to Mix 1994
5 5 Publications and ephemera. Philadelphia City of Music, by James Rosin (inscribed to Tarsia) 2006
5 6 Publications and ephemera. Philadelphia Music Alliance 1995, 1996
5 7 Publications and ephemera. Philadelphia Music Foundation 1987, 1989, undated
6 9 Publications and ephemera. ProSound News 2003
5 8 Publications and ephemera. Tape-Op: The Creative Music Recording Magazine 2008
5 9 Publications and ephemera. Temples of Sound: Inside the Great Recording Studios, by Jim Cogan and William Clark 2003
5 10 Miscellaneous ephemera, publications, and other records undated
1 2 Photographs. Studio, New York and Philadelphia 1970s-1981, undated
1 3 Photographs. Studio, people, and events, including Joe Tarsia and Gamble and Huff undated (1970s-1990s)
1 4 Photographs. Studio undated (1980s-1990s)
1 5 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff 1980s
1 6 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff undated (circa 1980s, 1990s)
1 7 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff and/or artists undated (circa 1980s-1990s)
1 8 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff and/or artists undated, 1990s
1 9 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff and/or artists undated, 1990s
1 10 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff and/or artists undated (circa 1990s)
1 11 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff and/or artists undated (circa 1990s)
1 12 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff undated
1 13 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff undated
1 14 Photographs. Studio, including with studio staff and/or artists (contact sheets only) undated
2 1 Photographs. Studio and events 1990s, undated
2 2 Photographs. Joe Tarsia, including snapshots with other people 1960s-1990s
6 1 Photographs. Joe Tarsia; "MFSB (Mother, Father, Sister, Brother) (photocopy) undated
2 3 Photographs. Artists in the studio undated (1970s-1980s)
2 4 Photographs. Artists in the studio undated (1970s-1980s)
2 5 Photographs. Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff 1968, undated
2 6 Photographs. Events undated (1980s-1990s)
2 7 Photographs. Artists headshots, some autographed undated
2 8 Photograph. Frank Rizzo posing with the Jackson Five in 1976 or 1977 (copy) undated
2 9 Photographs. Chubby Checker receiving Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame Award undated
2 10 Photographs. Unidentified musical act (not in studio) circa 1980s
2 11 Negatives, including contact prints. Studio 1984, undated
2 12 Negatives, including contact prints. Studio, including with artists 1980s, undated
2 13 Negatives. Studio, including with studio staff 1980, 1993, undated
2 14 Negatives. Studio, including with studio staff and artists 1990s, undated
2 15 Negatives. Studio undated
2 16 Negatives. Studio, including with studio staff undated
2 17 Negatives. Studio, including with studio staff
2 18 Negatives. Studio, including with people, and events undated
2 19 Negatives and contact sheets. Events 2000?, undated
3 1 Negatives. Unidentified 1980s-2000s
3 2 Slides. Studio 1978-1981
3 3 Slides. Studio 1997, undated
3 4 Advertisements and promotional materials 1999, undated
6 2 Advertisements and promotional materials 1987
3 5 Advertisements and promotional materials 1987, 1996, 1997, undated
3 6 Advertisements and promotional materials. AddZest (English and Japanese) undated (circa 1990s)
3 7 Advertisements and promotional materials. AddZest, product catalogs (English and Japanese) 1990s
3 8 Advertisements and promotional materials. AddZest, product catalogs (English and Japanese) 1990s
6 3 Advertisements and promotional materials. AddZest, product catalogs (English and Japanese) 1990s
6 4 Advertisements and promotional materials. AddZest, product catalogs (English and Japanese) 1990s
3 9 Advertisements and promotional materials (2 3.5-inch floppy disks) undated
Digital Folder(s) 1 Advertisements and promotional materials. Sigma Sound logo and McSorley Kery Design ad 1996
4 1 Architectural plans 1994, undated
6 5 Awards 1971, 1989, undated
4 2 Correspondence 1991-2002
4 3 Ephemera, invitations and greeting cards sent by Sigma 1979, 1980, undated
4 4 Lists of Hit Records 1994, 1996, undated
4 5 "Playback," newsletter 1998
4 6 Publicity report 1990-1993
6 6 "Recording Hits Since '68," ten year anniversary publication 1978
4 7 "Sigma Sound: Past and Present" after 1995
4 8 Studio histories and recollections 2002, undated
6 7 Clippings, articles by Joe or Michael Tarsia 1980, 1990-1999
6 8 Clippings 1973, 1988-1996, undated
4 9 Clippings (includes some photocopies) 1977-1999, undated
4 10 Clippings (includes some photocopies) 1977-2010, undated
4 11 Clippings (includes some photocopies) 1981-2003, undated
4 12 Clippings (includes some photocopies) 1992-2011, undated
4 13 Clippings, including one clipping about Joseph and Rose Tarsia, Joe Tarsia's parents 1970-2003, undated
4 14 Publications and ephemera. Black Music Association. "Philadelphia Music Makers, A Celebration of Commerce and Culture…" 1985
4 15 Publications and ephemera. Black Music Association. "A Tribute to the Greatest Love, The Linda Creed Memorial Scholarship Fund Benefit Concert" and other records 1987-1988
4 16 Publications and ephemera. Euphony: Harrison's Journal of Good Sound 1981
5 1 Publications and ephemera. The Grammy Awards program 1995, 1997
5 2 Publications and ephemera. The Grammy Awards program 1999
5 3 Publications and ephemera. Mix 1997, 1999, 2007
5 4 Publications and ephemera. Supplement to Mix 1994
5 5 Publications and ephemera. Philadelphia City of Music, by James Rosin (inscribed to Tarsia) 2006
5 6 Publications and ephemera. Philadelphia Music Alliance 1995, 1996
5 7 Publications and ephemera. Philadelphia Music Foundation 1987, 1989, undated
6 9 Publications and ephemera. ProSound News 2003
5 8 Publications and ephemera. Tape-Op: The Creative Music Recording Magazine 2008
5 9 Publications and ephemera. Temples of Sound: Inside the Great Recording Studios, by Jim Cogan and William Clark 2003
5 10 Miscellaneous ephemera, publications, and other records undated
Request Materials from Special Collections Research Center
https://temple.aeon.atlas-sys.com/Logon/?Action=10&Form=30&ItemTitle=Sigma Sound Studio Records, 1960-2011&ItemPlace=Urban Archives&CallNumber=SCRC 212&rft.pages=Urban Archives