06/22/2026
Well, now that hell has frozen over and the Knicks are NBA Champs, Amy and I thought it might be a good time to slip in a little announcement…
Kaleidoscope Sound will be closing its doors as of July 1, 2026 after a great 25 year run. We have enjoyed amazing adventures, worked hard over long hours, won awards, created beautiful music, weathered crazy industry changes and built many wonderful relationships. Now, it is time to move on.
To all the great artists with whom we had the privilege to work with, thank you from the bottom of our hearts, that was by far, the best part of it all. The joy of participating in your process was the fuel that kept us going for so long. We also had the good fortune of having the most incredible staff that anyone, in any business, could ever have. People threw themselves completely into the work and constantly went above and beyond. We managed to attract people to work at Kaleidoscope who were in it for the right reasons and willing to do the 90% perspiration for that 10% when the magic just poured onto the hard-drive (or tape).
When looking back through our studio “rolodex”, every entry has meaning. There are “The Greats” who have passed-on, who we had the privilege to know and call friends, as well as the artists we only worked with once. Perhaps most inspiring however are the many, many hard working, dedicated musicians who claimed Kaleidoscope as home over the years. The community around the studio went through many eras, and each was unique and fantastic. The engineers and producers who brought in projects taught us so much and inspired us to use our rooms and gear in new and innovative ways. We are so grateful and privileged to have been part of everyone’s musical process.
It is now time for the next generation to sort out this beautiful mess of an industry. I will continue my mixing and production work with friend and mentor Ray Dillard (RnR Audio), as well as occasional on-location recording and studio work at Marigny Studios in New Orleans. I plan to continue with teaching and have at least one other very exciting “next chapter” in the works (of which I cannot reveal at this time).
Amy, having learned from and lovingly cared for the studio’s 1914 rebuilt Steinway B over the many years, extensively studied piano technology, apprenticed with rebuilding and concert tuning masters, and is now excitedly expanding “Crafton Piano Works”, her piano repair and tuning client base.
As an obscure writer once said, “The love you take is equal to the love you make”. Let’s keep making love, taking love, and remembering how truly fortunate we are to do what we do. Please feel free to share any photos of memories you have in the comments section (and please tag us in it), as it would be so nice to see!
For those wondering, much of the gear will be for sale in a slow and thoughtful manner over time and through various avenues. If you have any specific interests, let me know as I am compiling a list.
Peace and Love,
Randy and Amy Crafton
Kaleidoscope Sound
