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ABOUT US
Discover the Heart of Pool House Studios
Pool House Studios is more than just a recording facility; it's a creative retreat designed with artists in mind. With the rise of Texas' entertainment industry, we recognized the need for versatile recording spaces where collaboration and inspiration thrive.
Our studio embraces the warmth of family and friends, making every session feel special and inviting. Whether you're an emerging talent or an established artist, we’re here to support you in crafting extraordinary music that resonated within the heart of Texas. Reach out and discover your musical sanctuary.
Our Team
Johnny
With over 25 years of experience in the residential and commercial construction industry, Johnny brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his professional endeavors. After graduating from The University of Hawaii with a Business Administration degree, he served his country for 12 years in the United States Navy, surviving two wars. His construction career flourished at Marriott International, Inc., where he served as Construction Manager for the Western Pacific region, overseeing the construction of more than 30 hotels worldwide.
This experience laid the foundation for establishing J&L Builders, through which he has successfully led multi-million-dollar projects across various sectors including infrastructure, higher education, restaurant, grocery, and retail projects. His commitment to excellence is reflected in his active memberships in organizations such as the Texas Association of Builders, National Association of Home Builders, and multiple Chamber of Commerce chapters. When not working, Johnny enjoys outdoor activities and traveling with his wife Lori, while maintaining his dedication to supporting The Wounded Warrior Program and St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
Music has been a constant thread throughout Johnny's life, beginning at age 10 when he first picked up the snare drum. While his friends pursued their musical dreams in Los Angeles after graduation, Johnny's path led him to serve in the Navy, where he met his wife and eventually settled in the Hill Country to raise their family. As his two children grew up and started families of their own, Johnny finally found the opportunity to return to his true passion. With the support of talented friends, he realized his dream of creating Pool House Studios, LLC, a space dedicated to helping artists record and create their music. This venture represents the perfect fusion of his lifelong love for music with his entrepreneurial spirit, providing a creative haven for musicians to bring their artistic visions to life.
Rich
Rich Baur is a seasoned drummer, performer, and creative force based in the Texas Hill Country. With a musical style deeply rooted in rock, soul, and blues, Rich brings raw energy, feel, and finesse to every stage and studio he steps into.
A regular presence in Austin’s iconic live music scene — including frequent performances at venues like The Continental Club — Rich has built a reputation for his powerful groove, dynamic playing, and deep musicality. He has recorded and toured with a variety of artists, including contributing drums on Paul Val’s Steady Rock and Roller, and continues to be an in-demand session player across the region.
In addition to his drumming, Rich is a passionate creator involved in video and audio production. Through his studio and live work, he captures the heartbeat of each project — whether backing a soulful vocalist, laying down a tight rhythm section, or producing engaging visual content.
Active on social media and YouTube, Rich shares his performances, creative projects, and behind-the-scenes moments with a growing audience of music lovers and fellow musicians. His work reflects not only technical skill but also a love for collaboration, storytelling, and authenticity in music.
Buck
From his earliest days, Buck has carried a deep passion for music. Even while working as a college intern on Wall Street, fate gave him a surprising connection to the industry when he found himself managing investment portfolios for legendary artists such as David Bowie and others. That experience sparked a lifelong drive to blend creativity, business, and community.
A believer in Ikigai, the Japanese philosophy of finding purpose through passion, Buck has built a career that spans wealth management, technology, philanthropy, the music industry, and even parkour. At the core of it all, a few themes have remained constant: family, music, and the power of connection.
His impact on the Austin arts scene is notable. In 2023 he helped bring the LOVELOUD Festival featuring Imagine Dragons and Neon Trees to Austin, and in 2004 he produced the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Benefit Concert for the Austin Chapter.
Known as a natural connector of dots, Buck thrives on bringing people and talent together to create something greater than the sum of its parts. An aspiring artist himself, he draws inspiration from helping others bring their visions to life.
When he is not writing, walking his dog Houston, or savoring a glass of cabernet with a favorite record spinning, Buck serves on multiple nonprofit boards and advisory groups, giving back to the causes he believes in most. Through every endeavor, Buck always returns to what matters: family, music, and the power of connection. It is in those spaces that he continues to create, inspire, and bring people together.
Rudy Cortez
Rudy Cortez is a veteran musician with more than 45 years of experience in the world of music. A versatile lead guitarist and bassist, Rudy is instantly recognizable for his unique left-handed, upside-down playing style that sets him apart on any stage.
Over the decades, he has honed his craft not only as a performer, but also as a songwriter, producer, and dedicated gear enthusiast.
For Rudy, music has always been more than just sound—it’s a feeling that lives in both the bones and the heart. His approach combines technical skill with intuition, allowing him to know when a song is truly right. That instinct, paired with a deep sense of commitment, has been the driving force behind his lifelong journey in music.
Whether writing, producing, or performing, Rudy brings passion, precision, and creativity to everything he does. His career reflects not just talent, but also dedication to the craft of music and the belief that authenticity is what makes a performance truly unforgettable.
Alex
Alex is an alumnus from the Berklee College of Music, majoring in Film Scoring and Music Production & Engineering. He started playing guitar at the age of 5 which has led to a successful career as a session guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with credits on over 50 albums spanning multiple genres.
Alex has 7 Grammy nominations for music education and has performed with notable acts like Three 6 Mafia, Lady Gaga, Kreator, TSO, & many others.
Alex is extremely passionate in contributing his time, experience & knowledge within the industry to further the education & growth of the future generations of rock stars.
Nic
Nic Rundell is a composer, educator, and audio engineer based in Cedar Park, Texas. Growing up in the early 2010s during the rise of the online metal music scene, he developed a passion for writing, producing, and engineering within the digital recording world.
After performing and teaching with drumlines in the marching band scene, Nic pursued Sound Recording Technology at Texas State University, graduating in 2021 to focus on audio engineering full time.
Since then, Nic has engineered and assisted for artists including Fit For A King, Mike Meadows, Hector Trejo, Collude, Slow Pulse, Citadel Burning, and HateWaker. Known for his adaptability, he works quickly in any recording environment and often blends digital and analog techniques to achieve the best sound possible.
Nic is a member of Texas-based metal bands Collude and Citadel Burning. Outside the studio, he teaches drumlines and percussion lessons and works as a Multimedia Technician at the University of Texas at Austin, calibrating studios and theaters to Dolby specifications. In his free time, Nic enjoys spending time with his girlfriend Allison, his cat Alfie, and his dog Winston.
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