Cherokee Studios — Los Angeles

Cherokee Studios at 751 North Fairfax Avenue in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles was one of the city's most important recording facilities from its opening in 1972 until its closure in 2014. David Bowie recorded Young Americans (1975) at Cherokee. Frank Sinatra's final studio album was made there. Michael Jackson recorded parts of Off the Wall (1979) in the studio, and Rihanna, Rod Stewart, Neil Young, and dozens of other major artists worked in its rooms over four decades. The studio's three rooms were prized for their warm acoustics and versatile character.

Cherokee was founded by the Robb brothers and earned a reputation for its relaxed, musician-friendly atmosphere. Its Fairfax District location — near the heart of LA's music industry infrastructure — made it convenient for artists and producers working across the city. The studio was particularly associated with the 1970s and 80s LA sound, and its client list from that era reads like a who's who of American pop, rock, and R&B.

Cherokee Studios closed in 2014 after over 40 years of operation, another victim of the changing economics of the recording industry. The building on North Fairfax Avenue has since been repurposed. The studio's closure was part of a broader trend of legendary Los Angeles studios shutting down — alongside the Hit Factory, A&M, and others — as home recording technology and declining album budgets made large commercial studios increasingly unsustainable.