Livingston has been in business in various shapes and sizes since 1953 and has always strived to keep up with technical developments and changes in fashion.

Livingston was started by Ray Kinsey, a film director from North London, who branched out into recording talking books for the blind. The first “music” Livingston Studios was set up in Barnet in 1963 continuing the work of recording talking books as well as a little folk music. Ray's son, Nick, joined the company in 1966, where he further developed the studios folk and now pop music recording portfolio, recording such artistes as Pentangle, Ian Matthews and Russ Ballard. Nick went on to buy the studio with Alan Tomkins and Michael Smee, and rebuilt the studio after an inspired journey to America.

It was in 1980 that Nick Kinsey decided to expand the business and move to our current location in the delightful Victorian Chapel in Wood Green. This old dilapidated building was transformed, by Nick, into two hi-tech recording facilities. The first, Studio One, was opened in the same year with Studio Two to follow, two years later. It was at this time that Jerry and Mary Boys joined the company, expanding the facility in 1985, by installing the SSL E Series we have today. By 1987 they had opened two more studios in Guillemot Place.

In 1993 Livingston, like many other studios of the time, succumbed to fateful recession and an unhelpful Landlord, and Studios 3&4 were closed down. Luckily, however, the Brook Road site of Studios 1&2 was acquired by Jerry, along with Dave Margereson of Mismanagement, and the new company Livingston Recording Studios Ltd was born. The Flagship E Series SSL was kept in Studio 1 and an Amek Rembrandt console was later installed in Studio 2.

Nick Gold, Producer and owner of the World Music record label, World Circuit, met Jerry Boys after working together on a CD with Oumou Sangare. This session was such a success and the two got on so well that they decided to work together on other projects. One of these projects was the iconic Buena Vista Social Club.

On a trip to Cuba to record Afro Cuban All Stars, Nick and Jerry had also planned to make a record with musicians from Cuba and Mali. Unfortunately, or fortunately it might be said, the Malian musicians were unable to make the recording session and so Buena Vista Social Club was born.

After mixing these amazing records back at Livingston, the partnership between Nick and Jerry was sealed, along with Nick Gold's love of the studio. So strong in fact that in 2001 he decided to buy the company from Jerry to allow all of World Circuit's records to be mixed and sometimes recorded there. Both studios were refurbished completely to maintain Livingston's high standards.

Many of the World Circuit Records have been mixed in both studios at Livingston and one or two have been recorded here too, showing the versitility of the studio and equipment in it.

Livingston Studios is still a successful complex, with both studios in continuous use. We have created a place where the traditional and state of the art work alongside each other and in harmony. Our staff are dedicated to making Livingston a comfortable place to make music and to continue our role in the British music industry at all levels. Ever expanding we plan to be here long into the future so come and join us in making future history.