PHOTO BY JARED CHARLUPSKY

stark simplicity of the building. A
glassed-in basketball court faces out
to a courtyard where speakers dis-
guised as rocks deliver atmosphere
to guests dining outside. Another
glassed wall opens onto a garage
where Goodman’s BMW and Ferrari
take turns in the spot.
The studio is also a masterpiece,
with equipment from Vintage King
in Ferndale.
It took three years and $3 million
to build this empire. As far as he

knows there are few studios like his
in the metro area. Goodman can
offer assistants, sound engineers
and, of course, a full kitchen, work-
out suite and shower.
If he’s doing the engineering, he’ll
sit in as a musician. His goal is to
help artists develop — a process
that can take two years — and get
them on the charts.
“There’s so much talent in
Detroit,” Goodman says. “I’m trying
to revive Motown.” •

PHOTO BY JULIE EDGAR

PHOTO BY JARED CHARLUPSKY

large, kitschy oil painting Goodman
commissioned in L.A.: a cardinal
listening thoughtfully to a wealthy
lady playing a piano, her bewigged
husband beside her, sometime in
the 18th century. It is flanked by
Rococo chairs from Germany that
Goodman found on eBay and had
reupholstered in ruby red velvet.
In keeping with a royal theme,
Goodman covered a 35-foot wall
with a deep blue velvet curtain. The
plushness is contrasted with the

TOP: A panel by L.A. artist Madsteez lines the
expanse of a hallway.
ABOVE: Roger Goodman in the studio’s basketball court.
BOTTOM LEFT: In the foyer, visitors are welcomed with a pair
of turn-of-the-century Rococo chairs upholstered in ruby
red velvet. Goodman had the painting above commissioned
in L.A. The sound lock area of the studio — built by Lansing
acoustician Glenn Brown — was hand stained in varying
finishes, matched to Goodman’s own rendering.

jn

June 8 • 2017

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