Celestial Sounds Build It and They Will Rock
By Tasha Wilson
This year, Celestial Sound Studio is celebrating 25 years of service to our Modesto community. It is only a stone’s throw away from the home of studio owners, Roger, and Jo Hanner. In fact, together, Mr and Mrs Hanner built the studio on their own. Talk about teamwork that made a dream work! Roger credits his wife every chance he gets for assisting him with his dream.
Roger always had a love of music and the rock and roll lifestyle. Even his long flowing hair reflects that. To this day, when Roger is questioned about his long hair, he responds with a smile and says simply, “I do music.” With Roger’s free spirit, it is no surprise, that from a young age, he desired to go off and start an independent life of his own. The minute he became an adult, he left his New York home. “I was only 18 years old, and I told my parents that I was going to hitchhike from New York back to California to live my dreams. All I had was my backpack and the drive to succeed. Originally, I was from California anyway, but my mother had remarried and moved us to New York. But at 18, I was ready to go back to California,” he said.
Years later, Roger returned to New York and ended up reconnecting with Jo. They were friends from their High School days. When they saw each other again, sparks flew, and they married. Roger went on to say, “I went to school for music and my wife was my main supporter. Gary Van Scyoc, who was John Lennon’s bass player, became my Music Theory teacher. Music was in my family. My great-aunt was a singer in The Benny Goodman Band in 1934, so music has always flowed through my veins, and I always knew I wanted a recording studio. In 1995, Jo and I moved back to Modesto and bought this house. We began to build my dream studio next door to it in 1997.” It was then, that Celestial Sound Studio was born!
Inside, there are three separate areas of space. Throughout the years, many beautiful artifacts have been collected and housed inside. There is a grand piano, a gong, similar to the one used on the original seventies tv sitcom, The Gong Show, and a beautiful symbol that was given to Roger by the rock band, Slayer. There are far too many bands that have recorded at Celestial Sound Studio to mention them all. However, Slayer, Boston, Oakland rapper, Too Short, Modesto’s own, Flying Blind, as well as Roger Hanner’s own band, Wisdom, have all recorded here.
I asked Roger the Modesto View Magazine signature question, “Stones or Beatles?” Roger replied, “Led Zepplin but I love the Beatles. Their music speaks to me on so many levels.”
Celestial Sound Recording Studio has brought Roger Hanner a great abundance of success here in Modesto, California and after twenty-five years of service, he says, “There will be no stopping!” For more information or to schedule a recording session (209) 575-4338.
