Nick Jr. Ninja Turtle’s Voice Is Recorded in Owensboro

Since 1996, Gray Sky Music has been a key Owensboro area hub for regional musicians looking for a top-flight recording studio or advertisers seeking commercial jingle production. Matt and Nicole Gray are the proprietors, and do they ever know how to celebrate a 30th anniversary.

Okay, in all fairness, the amazing gig that Matt Gray has landed was likely coming his way whether this was a milestone anniversary or not. Matt is one of the best, and now his Owensboro recording studio is playing a role in Teeny Mutant Ninja Turtles, a brand new animated series from Nickelodeon's Nick Jr.

So how did Nick Jr. find Matt Gray? Well, that's part of another local story that's no less impressive.

HOW AN EVANSVILLE VOICE ACTOR LED NICKELODEON TO OWENSBORO

Twelve-year-old Evansville voice actor Charlie Palmer landed the role of Donatello—Donny in the series—and referred the production team to Matt. Charlie’s voice work needed to be recorded in or around Evansville. Gray Sky Music was vetted for the project, and suddenly a Nickelodeon production had found a recording home just down the road in Owensboro.

Matt explained that what are called "coaching" sessions with Charlie are conducted via Zoom. The producers need to be able to see Charlie during those sessions, and Matt actually built equipment to make that possible.

Nicole Gray

And here's the really cool part.

WHEN DONNY SPEAKS, YOU'RE HEARING OWENSBORO

When you're watching Teeny Mutant Ninja Turtles and Donny speaks, you're hearing Charlie Palmer's performance recorded right here in Owensboro. In fact, the series' very first episode begins with Donny. Take a listen.

All 30 episodes of the first season are available on the Nick Jr. YouTube channel. The series is geared toward preschoolers, with each episode running about four minutes.

And Owensboro's connection to the series isn't finished.

A second season has already been greenlit, and Matt says work is underway. He estimates that three to six episodes of the new season have already been recorded at Gray Sky, with Charlie's recording sessions taking place in two-hour blocks.

What's more, Matt tells me that his work on Teeny Mutant Ninja Turtles led to an interview with Paramount's music department, which has added his work to its catalog for future consideration. He says that it's the kind of thing he's dreamed about for 30 years.

I bet he never thought Teeny Turtles would be the pathway to living that dream.