Studio SQ
History
History of the Studio
Studio SQ was originally built in 1982 by Michael Ward (who later went on to build and operate Hyde Street Studios). In 2003 Nate Perry took over the space and turned it into Take Root Recordings.
In 2007, owner John Flores moved back to the bay area from Los Angeles where he had a lengthy career at Soundcastle Studios. Within two months of his return he opened a small one-room studio called Snoppy Quop Studios.
In 2008, John took over the current space from Take Root and changed the name to Studio SQ. Shortly thereafter he partnered up with Jeremy Rosenblum, a great young engineer and tech. The two new partners quickly got to work renovating the studio and adding a diverse collection of recording equipment and musical instruments.
The space itself has a diverse musical history, hosting classic artists such as Billy Bragg, NOFX, and the Melvins.
History of “Snoppy Quops”
"Snoppy Quops" are a line of cartoons created by Feg Murray in the 1930's. Feg's great grandson, John Flores, has dedicated this studio to the artist and quirky characters that he grew up with and often refers to as his creative inspiration. The following is a brief bio on the history of Feg Murray and the origin of the Snoppy Quops.
Frederic "Feg" Murray was born in San Francisco, California on May 15, 1894. He was a descendant of the famous Mary Lindley Murray whose well-planned dinner party detained British General Howe and his officers long enough for the American troops to escape in 1776.
He acquired his nickname "Feg" as a child, and it stuck with him the rest of his life. Murray attended Palo Alto High School and ultimately graduated from Stanford University's art department in 1916. While in college he was an interscholastic track star. His skills led him to represent the U.S. in the 1920 Olympic games. There he won a Bronze medal in the Hurdles event.
Murray studied at the Art Students' League in New York City and soon after began a career as a cartoonist specializing in sports related cartoons. During that time he worked for the "New York Sun" and "United Features". Murray returned to California in 1934. For 18 years he worked in Hollywood for the "Los Angeles Times" and "King Features Syndicate" as the creator of the cartoon "Seein' Stars" based on the Hollywood movie industry.
In the 1930's he also began drawing his renowned "Snoppy Quops", a group of strange, yet charmingly imaginative characters that reflected Feg's wild imagination and unique sense of humor (see the above image). The Snoppy Quops were never published. Instead they were distributed amongst family and close friends, and would often be dedicated to a specific person as a Christmas or birthday present.
By 1955 he had retired to Carmel Valley, California where he became an active member of the Carmel Art Association. Murray died in his Carmel Valley home on July 16, 1973.
In addition to the Carmel Art Association, he was also a member of the Olympic Club in San Francisco. During his lengthy career he exhibited his works at the Little Picture Gallery, the Thunderbird Shop in Carmel, and at the Mein Gallery in San Francisco.
Contact John Flores at john@studiosq.com for more information on Feg Murray, the Snoppy Quops, or Murray family history.
