Can-Am Recorders at 18730 Oxnard Street in Tarzana helped connect the San Fernando Valley to decades of popular music and, later, the defining sound of 1990s West Coast hip-hop. The studio opened in 1978, grew into a respected commercial facility during the 1980s, became closely associated with Death Row Records in the 1990s, and continues today under a different name.
Can-Am Recorders Quick Facts
- Address: 18730 Oxnard Street, Suite 211, Tarzana, California
- Founded: September 1978
- Founders: Lanny Williamson, Larry Cummins, and Bill Wasson
- Best-known era: Death Row Records and 1990s West Coast hip-hop
- Later names: Ironworks Studio and Mix LA
- Current name: NoName Studios
- Current status: Active recording studio
- Last verified: August 2026
How Can-Am Recorders Began
A 1978 Billboard item cited in the original version of this article reported that Lanny Williamson, Larry Cummins, and Bill Wasson conceived Can-Am that September. Its setting was unusual: a low-profile industrial property in Tarzana, well west of the better-known recording corridors in Hollywood and Burbank.
That location also became part of the studio’s appeal. Artists and engineers could work in a quieter, less conspicuous corner of Los Angeles while remaining within reach of the entertainment industry.
Can-Am in the 1980s
Can-Am was firmly established by the 1980s. A 1987 Mix studio directory listed Can-Am Recorders at the Oxnard Street address, with Larry A. Cummins as studio manager and Brian Malouf, Stan Katayama, and Jim Dineen among its engineers. The directory described a professional facility built around an SSL 4000E console and extensive analog recording equipment.
Engineer Brian Malouf later recalled rebuilding the room with Cummins after arriving around 1981. Malouf’s decade at Can-Am connected the Tarzana studio with a wide range of major-label projects. Available credits associate the facility with rock, pop, R&B, and remix work; studio credits do not always mean every named performer personally recorded there.
When Death Row Records Came to Tarzana
Can-Am’s most famous chapter began in the 1990s, when the studio became closely tied to Death Row Records. The label’s artists and producers included Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur, and Tha Dogg Pound. The Tarzana facility offered privacy, dedicated rooms, and distance from the public attention surrounding the label.
Not every early Death Row recording was made at Can-Am. The Chronic, for example, has credits tied to other Los Angeles studios. Can-Am’s significance is that it became one of the label’s central working environments during Death Row’s peak period—not that every song in its catalog originated there.
Death Row’s Decline and the Studio’s Next Chapter
Death Row’s classic lineup fragmented after Dr. Dre’s departure, Tupac Shakur’s death, and Suge Knight’s incarceration. The company later entered bankruptcy, and its assets—including recognizable office memorabilia—were sold. Those corporate events did not end the recording history of the Oxnard Street rooms.
The facility subsequently operated under names including Ironworks Studio and Mix LA. Mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge discussed taking control of the familiar Tarzana studio after years of commuting to other facilities. Archived photos preserve the rooms during this post–Death Row period.
What Is at 18730 Oxnard Street Today?
The recording studio is active today as NoName Studios. In an interview with Real Street Radio, engineer Derek “MixedByAli” Ali described purchasing the former Death Row/Can-Am facility and renaming it NoName Studios. Current event listings continue to identify NoName Studios at 18730 Oxnard Street in Tarzana, confirming that the location remains in use in 2026.
The name has changed several times, but the address still functions as a recording and creative space. That continuity makes the property more than a former Death Row landmark: it is a living piece of San Fernando Valley music history.
Can-Am Recorders Timeline
- 1978: Can-Am Recorders is conceived by Lanny Williamson, Larry Cummins, and Bill Wasson.
- Early 1980s: The studio is rebuilt and expanded as its commercial clientele grows.
- 1987: Mix lists Can-Am as a multiroom professional recording facility at 18730 Oxnard Street.
- Early-to-mid 1990s: Can-Am becomes strongly associated with Death Row Records.
- Late 2000s–2010s: The facility operates under later identities, including Ironworks Studio and Mix LA.
- 2020s: MixedByAli acquires the former Can-Am facility and operates it as NoName Studios.
- 2026: Public listings continue to show NoName Studios active at the Tarzana address.
Historical Exterior Photos
The following photographs were taken for the San Fernando Valley Blog and document the building during its later studio eras.
Sources and Further Reading
- 1987 Mix Annual Directory (historical address, staff, rooms, and equipment)
- Real Street Radio interview with MixedByAli (acquisition and renaming as NoName Studios)
- 2026 event listing for NoName Studios (current address and activity)
Explore More San Fernando Valley Hip-Hop History
Editor’s note: This article was substantially updated in August 2026 to separate documented facts from older speculation, improve photo descriptions, and reflect the studio’s current identity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Can-Am Recorders
Where was Can-Am Recorders located?
Can-Am Recorders operated at 18730 Oxnard Street, Suite 211, in Tarzana, California. The recording rooms remain at the same address under a newer studio name.
When did Can-Am Recorders open?
Can-Am was conceived in September 1978 by Lanny Williamson, Larry Cummins, and Bill Wasson. By the 1980s it was an established professional recording and mixing facility.
Why is Can-Am associated with Death Row Records?
The Tarzana studio became one of Death Row Records’ central working environments during the label’s 1990s peak. Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur, and other artists connected to the label worked within that broader studio network.
Were all major Death Row albums recorded at Can-Am?
No. Death Row projects used several Los Angeles-area studios. Can-Am became especially important during the label’s peak, but early recordings such as The Chronic also have credits tied to other facilities.
Does the former Can-Am studio still exist?
Yes. The space continues to operate as a recording facility called NoName Studios. Engineer Derek “MixedByAli” Ali has described acquiring the former Can-Am and Death Row facility and renaming it.
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Bill Wesson was my brother in law. He was NOT an engineer--strictly an investor. Got disillusioned with the biz---trashing of the studio & the like. Lots of gold records at the house. He passed mid 90s
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