Just before we went to press, we heard that audio engineer / designer/ consultant extraordinaire Cal Perkins had passed away at age 80. Although his name may not be immediately familiar, his impact on an entire industry was far-reaching, designing products and consulting for JBL Pro, Mackie, Tapco, Marantz, TAD, Biamp, Panasonic / Ramsa, Fender Pro Audio, Audix and others. And some of the products he helped create are classics, ranging from Mackie’s VLZ console line and HR824 studio monitors to JBL Pro’s bestselling EON series of portable speakers.
Early in his career, working for seminal Oakland-based Swanson Sound company, Perkins provided the system concept and the crossovers for Bill Graham’s Fillmore West and Fillmore East concert halls. He also mixed FOH for artists including Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Harry Mancini, Ray Charles, James Brown, Linda Ronstadt, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Santana and countless others. And throughout his career, he had a reputation for reaching out to help novices getting started in the industry.
We will delve deeper into Cal Perkin’s career next month, but Perkins will be missed by all who knew him, and we send condolences to his wife Carrie and his three children. Rest well, old friend.
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