OHM Studios/Beloved Community Arts Center

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OHM Studios/Beloved Community Arts Center History

Back in the early 1900’s my family opened a music publishing shop on State Street in Chicago called The Original Home of Jazz Music Publishers.   They were carrying various titles including some of their own compositions.   In fact one of their songs was actually recorded by King Oliver and Louis Armstrong (“I’m Going Away Just to Wear You Off My Mind” 1927).   Unfortunately, this venture into the sheet music business came at a time when the industry was shifting to records and discs as “the” medium for the dissemination of music.  

My family had originally migrated from North Carolina to Chicago but before they left they were staples in the community down in Randleman.   They gave land for the community to build a church (St. Peter’s United Methodist), my great Aunt May helped teach piano to the community kids, my great grandfather helped build Bennett College, and my great grandmother was one of the first graduates of Bennett College.

Several years ago my father started to plan for our family’s future by developing the ancestral land in Randleman that was given to us by his father (that was given by his father, etc.…..).   As a musician, engineer, composer and educator I saw an opportunity to reclaim our family’s heritage in music and further the community by building an arts center and a recording studio based in Randleman that would help develop talent and would also bring well-known artists to the area.   In this way I hope to continue the legacy of my ancestors and build future legacies for the Randleman community to remember. At the same time providing a place for artists to record and develop their musical concepts.

The Original Home of Music Recording Studios (OHM) is an abbreviation of the publishing company name and seeks to provide a place where all styles of music can be recorded and sequenced.   The studio will be a comfortable place for artists to come and record.   For longer recording sessions and overnight projects they will also have a place to stay in the Cherrywood home several yards away.

The Beloved Community Arts Center is a place where the community can learn about music and the arts as well as practice and rehearse.   There are two practice rooms and a large rehearsal performance room.   This larger room can also be used as an art gallery.

We hope that you all will consider this facility in the creation of your artistic projects and we look forward to helping you create your own legacies in the future.

Sincerely,

William E. Smith, Ph.D.