Valcour Sound

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Valcour Sound

Valcour Sound is an award-winning studio in Broken Arrow, OK. It is owned and operated by Hank Charl Hank Charles grew up in Saint Louis, Missouri.

For the first five years of his life, he lived on a street called Valcour. He started playing music very young, and began recording himself and his brother by the age of eleven or twelve. Hank and his family moved to Broken Arrow, OK in 1972, where he recorded his own band who had a local hit on KELI radio in 1978. He started doing demos for other acts, such as Debbie Campbell, Gus Hardin, and The

Benders. He played and sang for nearly 15 years with the Jay Nunley Band four nights a week. All the while he honed his recording skills. When the house gig ended in 1994, he began taking out a PA system and running sound for others. This snowballed into nearly all local bands recording at his studio, Valcour Sound, at one time or another. By word of mouth through the 1990's, he built a large clientele. Valcour Sound artists won numerous "Spot Awards" from the Tulsa World newspaper throughout the late 90's and 2000's. And more recently, for four years running, Hank Charles won Best Producer/Studio of the Year from Urban Tulsa Magazine. Hank has recorded rock, country, metal, jazz, hip hop, and everything in between. Hundreds of original bands and cover bands, young and old, have recorded at Valcour Sound. Hank also continues to play music. From 2006-2011, he played guitar and keys for Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Wanda Jackson. He is currently performing with the great vocalist, Bill Holden, and his band.

21/08/2021

The Bill Holden band will be performing at Will Rogers Downs Casino in Claremore on 8/21 from 8pm-midnight so come out and see us! It's great to be back at the casino - we've missed everyone!

13/01/2019

My family and I were so sad to hear of Steve Ripley's passing. He was very kind to me and my kids when they were growing up.
Hank and Christy played the 2004 Spot awards at Cains Ballroom when they were 15 and 9 years old. The next day Thomas Conner called us from the Tulsa World and said Steve would like to get in touch with us. He had seen them play and wanted to meet them. We spoke on the phone and he invited us to the Church Studio.
The first thing we saw as we walked in was a guitar magazine with Eddie Van Halen on the cover, holding a guitar that Steve had made for him. And next to the magazine was the guitar itself, with the neck broken off! Steve was going to repair it, or make Eddie a new one. We had a great visit, and just as Steve was going to play us a new Tractors song that Leon Russell had played on, the phone rang. Steve took the call, and we looked around the studio at all the great gear and memorabilia. When he got off the phone, he said, "Sorry, that was Eddie, talking details on the new guitar he wanted."
We talked for awhile and listened to some great music. He told us about the time Bob Dylan visited the studio!
He kept in touch on Myspace, (remember that), and the kids called him "Uncle Steve". Through the years he came to some of their shows and we always sent him their latest recordings. He gave us his great solo album, and as one of his songs says, we are so sad that he has "Gone Away".
God bless his family and all who loved him. Hank Charles

26/10/2017

The big reveal from the secret JFK papers!

16/06/2017

Many thanks to Mr. Scott for this write up on Valcour Sound in the current issue of The Current Buzz!

30/12/2016

This is a Christmas song that my daughter & I recorded this year with her boyfriend, Cameron Neal. It is originally by The Raveonettes. Hope you enjoy!

"The Christmas Song" written by Sune Rose Wagner, and originally performed by The Raveonettes. Merry Christmas from Cameron + Christy! Cameron Neal - Vocals, Guitar Christy Hanewinkel - Vocals, Drum

25/12/2016

Merry Christmas from Valcour Sound!

Here's a cover of Leon Russell's "Slipping Into Christmas" that my daughter, Christy, and I recorded a couple of years ago.

"Slipping Into Christmas" written and performed by Leon Russell. Originally released by Leon in 1972, this cover of a Christmas classic is by my daughter, Christy Hanewinkel, and myself. We recorded

15/11/2016

My brother Paul and I were convinced it was a good idea to move from St. Louis to Tulsa by our parents in 1972. One big reason was "Leon Russell lives in Tulsa!"
My uncle's company had sheetrocked Leon's studio at Grand Lake, and by 1974 we had found his home at 24th and Peoria. We used to peek over his wall and see his blue Rolls parked in back. (See photo.)
Two years later, we had booked time at Leon's Church Studio. Shelter folded and the Church closed right before our session. Leon graciously offered to let us use his home studio while he was on tour.
I had spent many an hour with my turntable sitting on my old piano, trying to learn Leon songs as close to the recorded version as I could. So, when I first walked in and sat down behind his grand, I couldn't believe it.
Leon had a 40 track tape machine, one of three in the world, and a state of the art mixer. It was a big step up from my 4-track at home. There was a synth room full of panels and units and patch cabels. In one booth sat Willie Nelson's battered acoustic guitar. The engineer would take us up to Leon's bedroom to hear mixes played back. That was one of the best weeks of my life!
That's why I spent last night watching "Mad Dogs and Englishmen", "The Concert for Bangladesh", and listening to Leon Russell albums with my kids.

Leon Russell was an amazing songwriter, musician, arranger, and producer. Also, what a voice - pure cool! He played on countless hit records and he was a musical hero to me. Rest in peace, Leon, and thanks for the music!

16/09/2016

Had a great time at the Beatles premiere at Circle Cinema. Many friends and family attended. A new Beatle movie, you can't beat that!

05/08/2016

Come out and see me play with Bill Holden next Saturday for our CD release! Music from the 50's, 60's and 70's - only $5. It's going to be a great time!

22/04/2016

I had the pleasure of running sound for my kids at First Avenue last year where "Purple Rain" was filmed. This is a photo my daughter took during soundcheck of me at the board.

R.I.P. Prince.

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