Brian’s job at Capitol Records kicked off with a bang, and let’s just say it was chaos from day one. The Nashville office had just undergone a massive reorganization, leaving many critical roles unfilled. When Brian stepped into the office for the first time, he found a nearly empty space—save for his new boss, Rob Stringer, camped out in the only lighted office in the back of the massive workspace.
On loan from CBS Records, Rob was temporarily managing the Nashville office while Capitol searched for a permanent replacement. Coming from NYC himself, Rob was already familiar with Brian’s background at A&R Recording and desperately needed his production skills. Brian was supposed to be a lowly staff writer, tasked with crafting scores for upcoming projects. Instead, he found himself juggling far more than just composing—he was also attending meetings, coordinating schedules, reporting to Rob, and even supervising recording sessions.
On the bright side, the Capitol Records Nashville office was conveniently located just a stone’s throw from the legendary RCA Victor Studio on Music Row, where Brian spent most of his time producing. To make life even easier, he snagged a cozy studio apartment just down the block on 16th Street. And just in case you’ve been living under a rock, Music Row is a historic section southwest of downtown and the heartbeat of Nashville’s entertainment scene. For Brian, it was pure bliss, with everything he needed within easy walking distance.