Known as the “Father of Festival Sound,” Bill Hanley (b. 1937) made his indelible mark as a sound engineer at the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Fair.

John Kane

Hanley is credited with creating the sound of Woodstock, which literally made the massive festival possible. Stories of his on-the-fly solutions resonate as legend among festivalgoers, music lovers, and sound engineers.

Since the 1950s his passion for audio has changed the way audiences listen to and technicians approach quality live concert sound.

In my book I examine Hanley’s echoing impact on the entire field of sound engineering, that crucial but often overlooked carrier wave of contemporary music.

Hanley’s innovations founded the sound reinforcement industry and launched a new area of technology, rich with clarity and intelligibility.

By the early seventies the post-Woodstock festival mass gathering movement collapsed. The music industry shifted, and new sound companies surfaced. After huge financial losses and facing stiff competition, Hanley lost his hold on a business he helped create.

By studying both his history during the festivals and his independent business ventures, I sought to to present an honest portrayal of Hanley and his acumen and contributions.

Since 2011, I conducted extensive research, including over one hundred interviews with music legends from the production and performance side of the industry. These carefully selected respondents witnessed Hanley’s expertise at various events and venues like Lyndon B.

Johnson’s second inauguration, the Newport Folk/Jazz Festivals, the Beatles’ final tour of 1966, the Fillmore East, Madison Square Garden, and more.

The Last Seat in the House: The Story of Hanley Sound (released in February 2020 with the University Press of Mississippi) will intrigue and inform anyone who cares about the modern music industry.

Read more about the book at the website: http://www.thelastseatinthehouse.com/

Buy the book at Amazon: The Last Seat in the House: The Story of Hanley Sound was released by the University Press of Mississippi in early 2020. Order your copy now on Amazon!

By Published On: maj 16, 2020Categories: In Focus, Miscellaneous

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About the Author: Kbremer

Good music enriches your life. At BLUE DESERT we are passionate about this particular yet wide-ranging style of music we call West Coast Music. This site is a modest tribute to the music and the performing artists, who through the (many) years have given us - and continue to give us - endless hours of musical enjoyment. As long-time fans we want to share our enthusiasm, experiences and views with fellow connoisseurs as well as curious newcomers. If we can do our bit to help promote this great music and all the gifted artist – well, then we have succeeded.