San Antonio’s Gunter Hotel has opened a new recording studio, honoring its musical history and blues legend Robert Johnson, who recorded some of his most notable songs at the hotel.
In 1936, Johnson made his first recordings in Room 414 of the Gunter Hotel, leading to the influential compilation album “King of the Delta Blues Singers.” For decades, musicians, including John Mellencamp, have visited the room to pay tribute to that history. The new recording studio is the final piece of the Gunter’s $57 million renovation and the hotel’s latest effort to preserve the music history that has shaped it.
“From the very start of this renovation, we felt that we had a duty to honor the music that has filled these halls for over a century,” said Jiwon Choi, the owner and managing director at Axle Capital, which owns the hotel.
The Gunter Studio will serve as a professional space for Texan musicians and other artists who visit San Antonio. It is also designed to fuel the next generation of musical talent in San Antonio and will be available as a training resource for students and non-profits.
Located on the hotel’s second floor, Gunter Studio features state-of-the-art recording equipment curated by producer Michael Ramos and acoustician Steve Durr, who designed the studio. A dedicated sound engineer will support musicians who book recording sessions. Afterward, they can relax in the adjacent jewel-toned Gunter Studio Lounge.
“We worked to configure a layout that maximizes the acoustic properties of the space,” Ramos said. “Recording at the Gunter is more than a standard session, it’s an opportunity to leave your mark on a place rich with musical history.”
Guests who want to connect with Johnson’s legacy can also record in Room 414, where the blues icon made his recordings.
Johnson is remembered for his guitar work and haunting lyrics, which made him one of the most revered artists of 1930s Mississippi Delta blues. His abilities also inspired one of the most enduring legends in music history: that he sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his musical gifts.
At the Gunter, Johnson recorded songs including “Terraplane Blues,” which became the only hit of his lifetime. He later influenced rock icons including Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan.
To celebrate the studio’s opening, the Gunter Hotel is inviting the public to visit the space on Aug. 26, Sept. 2, and Sept. 9 from 6 to 7 p.m., ahead of its Singer Songwriter Series in the Studio Lounge. Tickets for the 7 p.m. Singer Songwriter sessions can be purchased here.