By George Petersen
WESTBURY, NY — Well-known to many as the owner and founder of audio manufacturer Coleman Audio, pro audio veteran Glenn “Coley” Coleman passed away on Sept. 7, 2023 after a bout with cancer. He was 71.
Born November 27, 1951, Coleman was interested in audio since an early age and after high school, entered the 2-year program at United Electronics Institute in Louisville, KY, which he completed in 1973. A year later, he began working as a service engineer at Fort Lauderdale, FL-based MCI Inc., a major supplier of multi-track recorders, 2-track mastering decks and mixing consoles, which were popular in the recording studio and broadcast industries.
After his eight-year tenure at MCI, Coleman left and in 1982, headed northward to New York City, where he was hired as a senior tech engineer at Atlantic Records Studios, handling day-to-day maintenance and installation projects for the label’s 24/7 busy in-house studios at 1841 Broadway, in the heart of Manhattan, just a block from Columbus Circle. Not too coincidentally, in addition to the studio’s Neve and Studer gear, the facility also had a large complement of MCI consoles (Models 556 and 538) and recorders. And given Coleman’s innate talents at troubleshooting complex electronics and his encyclopedic knowledge of MCI recording gear, he fit right in with the crew.
During that time, Coleman had first-hand experience in seeing a market for ancillary devices that would simplify and enhance the production process and he founded Coleman Audio in 1988 to create products to fill that niche. He left Atlantic in 1989, and at the same time took a less stressful tech position with New York City pro audio retailer Martin Audio, which also allowed him time to focus on his new Coleman Audio line.
Over the years, Glenn’s Coleman Audio company became a regular denizen at Audio Engineering Society and NAMM shows, exhibiting his line of essential problem-solving products that exactly fit into production needs, especially as technology changed and progressed. He was proud that Coleman Audio would do just about anything for the customer; an outlook that with his own friendly and likeable nature — earned him literally thousands of friends throughout the industry, and seemingly, Glenn liked to pose for a photo with each one of them at every tradeshow. Finally, even in these days of “digital-everything,” Glenn would want to be remembered by his slogan: “In the end, it’s always analogue.” Rest well, old friend. You will be missed…
Glenn is survived by his son Patrick Coleman and wife Kassie, and grandson Troy, of Medford, NY; special friend Jody Ratner of East Meadow, NY; brother Brian Coleman and wife Jennifer of Canton, OH; sister Rebecca Princehorn and husband Clay Cormany of Worthington, OH; nieces and nephews in Boston, Philadelphia and Columbus, OH; and many friends, both within and outside of the professional audio industry.
A visitation for Glenn Coleman will be held Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Home, 125 Old Country Rd, Hicksville, NY 11801. A service is planned for September 17, 2023 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm, at the same location.
Memories of Glenn Coleman and expressions of sympathy can be shared at www.VernonCWagnerFuneralHome.com.
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Note: Glenn Coleman had a giving heart, loved animals and adopted many. In Glenn Coleman’s honor and in lieu of flowers/gifts, the family asks that you consider making a donation to North Shore animal league of Port Washington, NY (https://secure3.convio.net/nsala/site/Donation2?df_id=7123&7123.donation=form1 ) in Glenn’s honor.
