John Morgan Eargle (6 January 1931 in
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with ...
– 9 May 2007 in
Hollywood, California
Hollywood is a neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Its name has come to be a shorthand reference for the U.S. film industry and the people associated with it. Many notable film studios, such as Columbia Pictures, ...
) was an Oscar- and Grammy-winning audio engineer and a musician (piano and church and theater organ). He was the Chief Engineer for
Delos International, author of seminal textbooks on audio, a consultant (and vice president of engineering) for 31 years at
JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States. JBL serves the customer home and professional market. The professional market includes studios, installed/tour/portable sound, cars, music ...
, and past president and fellow of the
Audio Engineering Society.
Eargle and his colleague, Mark E. Engebretsen (born 1942), can be directly credited for the revolution in cinema sound reproduction after 1980. They presented a paper to the
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) (, rarely ), founded in 1916 as the Society of Motion Picture Engineers or SMPE, is a global professional association of engineers, technologists, and executives working in the m ...
demonstrating new concepts in cinema loudspeaker design. This led directly to developments culminating in the
THX
THX Ltd. is an American company that develops the eponymous high fidelity audio/visual reproduction standards for movie theaters, screening rooms, home theaters, computer speakers, gaming consoles, car audio systems, and video games. Founded ...
sound system developed by
Tomlinson Holman (born 1946). The
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of motio ...
awarded the two, and a third colleague,
D. B. (Don Broadus) Keele, Jr. (born 1940), a
Scientific and Technical Award (a Technical Oscar) in 2001:
: ''... for the concept, design and engineering of the modern constant-directivity, direct radiator style motion picture loudspeaker systems. The work of John M. Eargle, D.B. 'Don' Keele and Mark E. Engebretson has resulted in the over 20-year dominance of constant-directivity, direct radiator bass style cinema
loudspeaker
A loudspeaker (commonly referred to as a speaker or speaker driver) is an electroacoustic transducer that converts an electrical audio signal into a corresponding sound. A ''speaker system'', also often simply referred to as a "speaker" or ...
systems.''
Career timeline
Growing up
During his teenage years while at Texarkana High School in Arkansas, Eargle worked part-time for
Paul Klipsch in
Hope, Arkansas
Hope is a city in Hempstead County in southwestern Arkansas, United States. Hope is the county seat of Hempstead County and the principal city of the Hope Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Hempstead and Nevada counties. As of t ...
, which was about 30 miles from his home. Eargle graduated with honors from Texarkana Arkansas High School in 1948.
Recordings
Eargle engineered more than 250 CD releases, many for
Delos International, including the
Seattle Symphony
The Seattle Symphony is an American orchestra based in Seattle, Washington. Since 1998, the orchestra is resident at Benaroya Hall. The orchestra also serves as the accompanying orchestra for the Seattle Opera.
History
Beginnings
The orchestr ...
, the
Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the
London Symphony, the
Helsinki Philharmonic
The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (in Finnish: ; in Swedish: ; literal English translation: Helsinki City Orchestra; commonly abbreviated as HPO) is an orchestra based in Helsinki, Finland. Founded in 1882 by Robert Kajanus, the Philharmonic Orc ...
, the
Westminster Choir
, mottoeng = Let us be judged by our deeds
, established = 1926
, type = Private
, president = Gregory G. Dell'Omo
, dean = Marshall Onofrio
, city = Dayton, OH (1926–1929), Ithaca, NY (1929–1932), Princeton, NJ (1932–2020), Lawrencev ...
, the chamber orchestras of
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
,
New York, and
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...
, and the
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.
Eargle recorded soloists that include
John Browning,
Arleen Auger
Joyce Arleen Auger (sometimes spelled Augér ; September 13, 1939 – June 10, 1993) was an American soprano, known for her coloratura voice and interpretations of works by Bach, Handel, Haydn, Monteverdi, Mozart, and Schubert. She won a posthum ...
,
Janos Starker
János or Janos may refer to:
* János, male Hungarian given name, a variant of John
Places
* Janos Municipality, a municipality of Chihuahua
** Janos, Chihuahua, town in Mexico
** Janos Biosphere Reserve, a nature reserve in Chihuahua
* Janos ...
,
Garrick Ohlsson
Garrick Olof Ohlsson (born April 3, 1948) is an American classical pianist. He is the only American to have won first prize in the International Chopin Piano Competition, at the VIII competition in 1970. He also won first prize at the Busoni Com ...
,
Carol Rosenberger, and
Bella Davidovich.
During the 43rd Grammy Awards (February 2001), Eargle won a
Grammy for
Best Engineered Album, Classical
The Grammy Award for Best Engineered Recording, Classical has been awarded since 1959. The award had several minor name changes:
*In 1959 the award was known as Best Engineered Record (Classical)
*From 1960 to 1962 it was awarded as Best Enginee ...
his Delos recording of
Dvořák's
Requiem and
Symphony No. 9 performed by the
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
The New Jersey Symphony, formerly the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, is an American symphony orchestra based in the state of New Jersey. The New Jersey Symphony is the state orchestra of New Jersey, performing classical subscription concert serie ...
–
Zdenek Macal, conductor.
John Eargle was posthumously awarded a Technical GRAMMY Award in 2008 at the Special Merit Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on the evening prior to the 50th GRAMMY Awards Telecast. The Technical GRAMMY Award is presented by vote of The Recording Academy's National Trustees to individuals who have made contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording field.
"John Eargle left an everlasting and profound impression on the audio industry," said Mark Gander, Vice President of Marketing, JBL Professional, who accepted the GRAMMY Award on behalf of John Eargle, along with John's niece, Cyndi Bird, and nephew and namesake, John Paul Eargle. "He was a brilliant engineer, musician, author and teacher. His 2008 Technical GRAMMY Award commemorates the industry-wide recognition of John's accomplishments, as well as the considerable time he devoted to sharing his expertise, experience and wisdom.
A jazz
aficionado, Eargle engineered recordings by
Joe Williams,
Red Holloway
James Wesley "Red" Holloway (May 31, 1927 – February 25, 2012) was an American jazz saxophonist.
Biography
Born in Helena, Arkansas,Daniel E. Slotnik"Red Holloway, Swinger of the Sax, Dies at 84" ''The New York Times'', February 28, 2012 ...
,
Ruth Brown,
Clark Terry,
Tommy Newsom
Thomas Penn Newsom (February 25, 1929 – April 28, 2007) was a saxophone player in the NBC Orchestra on ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'', for which he later became assistant director. Newsom was frequently the band's substitute dir ...
, and
Etta James. His recording of
Joe Williams for Delos, titled ''
Nothin' but the Blues'' won a
Grammy in 1984 for
Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male, and his recording of
Ruth Brown for
Fantasy Records
Fantasy Records is an American independent record label company founded by brothers Max and Sol Stanley Weiss in 1949. The early years of the company were dedicated to issuing recordings by jazz pianist Dave Brubeck, who was also one of its invest ...
, ''
Blues on Broadway
''Blues on Broadway'' is an album by the American musician Ruth Brown, released in 1989 through Fantasy Records. The album earned Brown a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female. It was produced by Ralph Jungheim. Hank Crawford playe ...
'', won a 1989
Grammy for
Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female.
Education
Music
: Eargle studied music at the
University of North Texas College of Music
The University of North Texas College of Music, based in Denton, is a comprehensive music school among the largest enrollment of any music institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. It developed the first jazz studies ...
(1948 to 1950), the
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is the music school of the University of Rochester, a private research university in Rochester, New York. It was established in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman.
It offers Bachelor of Music ...
(Bachelor of Music, 1953), and the
University of Michigan
, mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth"
, former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821)
, budget = $10.3 billion (2021)
, endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
(Master of Music, 1954).
: His brother, Robert Gray Eargle, said that John Eargle had perfect pitch.
[''In Memorandum: John M. Eargle'', Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, Vol. 55, No. 6, June 2007]
Scientific & engineering
: After serving in the military, Eargle studied electrical engineering at the
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1883 and is the oldest institution in the University of Texas System. With 40,916 undergraduate students, 11,07 ...
(Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering 1962) and engineering at
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (Cooper Union) is a private college at Cooper Square in New York City. Peter Cooper founded the institution in 1859 after learning about the government-supported École Polytechnique in ...
(Master of Engineering, 1970). His thesis at Cooper Union, under the direction of Professor Daniel M. Schutzer (born 1940), was titled ''Four-Channel Stereophonic Transmission Over Two Normal Audio Channels.'' He also studied acoustics with
Cyril M. Harris (1917–2011) at
Columbia University
Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
.
Selected publications
Academic textbooks
* ''Handbook of Recording Engineering''
::
Van Nostrand Reinhold
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., commonly known as Wiley (), is an American multinational publishing company founded in 1807 that focuses on academic publishing and instructional materials. The company produces books, journals, and encyclopedias, in ...
,
New York (©1986)
:: Second edition,
John Wiley & Sons
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., commonly known as Wiley (), is an American multinational publishing company founded in 1807 that focuses on academic publishing and instructional materials. The company produces books, journals, and encyclopedias, ...
,
New York (©1992)
:: Third edition,
Van Nostrand Reinhold
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., commonly known as Wiley (), is an American multinational publishing company founded in 1807 that focuses on academic publishing and instructional materials. The company produces books, journals, and encyclopedias, in ...
,
New York (©1996)
::
Kluwer Academic Publishers
Springer Science+Business Media, commonly known as Springer, is a German multinational publishing company of books, e-books and peer-reviewed journals in science, humanities, technical and medical (STM) publishing.
Originally founded in 1842 in ...
,
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
(©2003)
:: Fourth edition,
Springer Science+Business Media
Springer Science+Business Media, commonly known as Springer, is a German multinational publishing company of books, e-books and peer-reviewed journals in science, humanities, technical and medical (STM) publishing.
Originally founded in 1842 ...
,
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
(©2005)
* ''The Microphone Book''
::
Focal Press,
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
(©2001)
:: Second edition,
Focal Press,
Oxford, United Kingdom
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the Un ...
(©2004)
* ''Music, Sound, and Technology''
::
Van Nostrand Reinhold
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., commonly known as Wiley (), is an American multinational publishing company founded in 1807 that focuses on academic publishing and instructional materials. The company produces books, journals, and encyclopedias, in ...
,
New York (©1990)
:: Second edition,
Van Nostrand Reinhold
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., commonly known as Wiley (), is an American multinational publishing company founded in 1807 that focuses on academic publishing and instructional materials. The company produces books, journals, and encyclopedias, in ...
,
New York (©1995)
* ''Sound Recording''
::
Van Nostrand Reinhold
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., commonly known as Wiley (), is an American multinational publishing company founded in 1807 that focuses on academic publishing and instructional materials. The company produces books, journals, and encyclopedias, in ...
,
New York (©1976)
:: Second edition,
Van Nostrand Reinhold
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., commonly known as Wiley (), is an American multinational publishing company founded in 1807 that focuses on academic publishing and instructional materials. The company produces books, journals, and encyclopedias, in ...
,
New York (©1980)
* ''Electroacoustical Reference Data''
::
Van Nostrand Reinhold
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., commonly known as Wiley (), is an American multinational publishing company founded in 1807 that focuses on academic publishing and instructional materials. The company produces books, journals, and encyclopedias, in ...
,
New York (©1994)
* ''Handbook of Sound System Design''
:: ELAR Publishing Co., Inc.,
Commack, New York
Commack ( ) is a hamlet and census designated place (CDP) that roughly corresponds to the hamlet by the same name in the towns of Huntington and Smithtown in Suffolk County, on Long Island, in New York. The CDP's population was 36,124 at the ...
(©1989)
* ''Loudspeaker Handbook''
:: First edition,
Springer Press (©1997)
:: Second edition,
Kluwer Academic Publishers
Springer Science+Business Media, commonly known as Springer, is a German multinational publishing company of books, e-books and peer-reviewed journals in science, humanities, technical and medical (STM) publishing.
Originally founded in 1842 in ...
,
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
(©2003)
Other publications
* ''Audio Engineering for Sound Reinforcement'', coauthored with Chris Foreman (paperback),
Hal Leonard,
Milwaukee
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee ...
(©2002)
* ''The JBL Story: 60 Years of Audio Innovation'',
Hal Leonard,
Milwaukee
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee ...
(©2006)
* ''JBL Sound System Design Reference Manual''
:: Coauthored with George Lee Augspurger, published by
JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States. JBL serves the customer home and professional market. The professional market includes studios, installed/tour/portable sound, cars, music ...
(©1982) (based largely on the ''Sound Workshop Manual'', by George Lee Augspurger, born 1929, published by
JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States. JBL serves the customer home and professional market. The professional market includes studios, installed/tour/portable sound, cars, music ...
, ©1977)
:: Second edition, coauthored with George Lee Augspurger, published by
JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States. JBL serves the customer home and professional market. The professional market includes studios, installed/tour/portable sound, cars, music ...
(©1986)
:: Third edition, updated by John Eargle (©1999)
Academic papers
* ''
Messiaen
Olivier Eugène Prosper Charles Messiaen (, ; ; 10 December 1908 – 27 April 1992) was a French composer, organist, and ornithologist who was one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex; harmonicall ...
: His Style and Technique'' (masters thesis),
University of Michigan
, mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth"
, former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821)
, budget = $10.3 billion (2021)
, endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
(1954)
Other scientific publications
''Improvements in Monitor Loudspeaker Systems'' coauthored with Don B. (Broadus) Keele, Jr. (born 1940), Journal of the
Audio Engineering Society, Vol. 31, No. 6, June 1983
Affiliations
* Eargle co-chaired with
Tomlinson Holman the
Audio Engineering Society Task Force on High Capacity Audio (Holman is the former Technical Director for
Lucasfilm Limited where he pioneered the
THX
THX Ltd. is an American company that develops the eponymous high fidelity audio/visual reproduction standards for movie theaters, screening rooms, home theaters, computer speakers, gaming consoles, car audio systems, and video games. Founded ...
Sound System and Home THX; Holman named the most widely used multichannel sound system "5.1")
* 1974–1975 — President,
Audio Engineering Society
* Fellow,
Acoustical Society of America
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is an international scientific society founded in 1929 dedicated to generating, disseminating and promoting the knowledge of acoustics and its practical applications. The Society is primarily a voluntary org ...
* Senior member,
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
* Member,
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) (, rarely ), founded in 1916 as the Society of Motion Picture Engineers or SMPE, is a global professional association of engineers, technologists, and executives working in the m ...
* Member,
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The Recording Academy (formally the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences; abbreviated NARAS) is an American learned academy of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other musical professionals. It is famous for its Grammy Aw ...
* Member, Hollywood Sapphire Group (a social engineering society)
* Member,
Tau Beta Pi (honorary engineering societies)
* Member,
Eta Kappa Nu
Eta Kappa Nu () or IEEE-HKN is the international honor society of the Computer Science and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). "The organization promotes excellence in the profession and in education through an emphasi ...
(honorary engineering societies)
* Member,
Phi Mu Alpha
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America (colloquially known as Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Mu Alpha, or simply Sinfonia) () is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music. The fraternity is open to men "w ...
, Gamma Theta, 1950 (
University of North Texas College of Music
The University of North Texas College of Music, based in Denton, is a comprehensive music school among the largest enrollment of any music institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. It developed the first jazz studies ...
Chapter)
References
; General references
* ''Who's Who in Technology Today;''
** (4 vols.) Jan W. Churchwell (born 1942) (senior ed.), Louann Chaudier (assoc. ed.); 3rd ed., J. Dick & Company (1982);
** Note: J. Dick & Company was an Illinois entity, John Howard Dick (born 1946), founder; the company was acquired by the
Thomson Corporation
The Thomson Corporation was one of the world's largest information companies. It was established in 1989 following a merger between International Thomson Organisation Ltd (ITOL) and Thomson Newspapers. In 2008, it purchased Reuters Group to fo ...
** (5 vols.) Barbara A. Tunucci (born 1932) (senior ed.), Louann Chaudier (assoc. ed.); 4th ed., Research Publications, J. Dick Publishing (1984);
* ''Who's Who in Technology'',
Gale Research
Gale is a global provider of research and digital learning resources. The company is based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, west of Detroit. It has been a division of Cengage since 2007.
The company, formerly known as Gale Research and the Gale Gro ...
;
** (2 vols. ) Amy L. Unterburger (ed.); 6th ed.,
Gale Research
Gale is a global provider of research and digital learning resources. The company is based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, west of Detroit. It has been a division of Cengage since 2007.
The company, formerly known as Gale Research and the Gale Gro ...
(1989);
** Himberley A. McGrath (ed.); 7th ed.,
Gale Research
Gale is a global provider of research and digital learning resources. The company is based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, west of Detroit. It has been a division of Cengage since 2007.
The company, formerly known as Gale Research and the Gale Gro ...
(1995);
* ''American Men & Women of Science'' (Eargle is in Vol. 2 of 8);
** 18th ed.,
R.R. Bowker
R. R. Bowker LLC (trading as Bowker) is an American limited liability company domiciled under Delaware Limited Liability Company Law and based in Chatham, New Jersey. Among other things, Bowker provides bibliographic information on publishe ...
(1992);
** 19th ed.,
R.R. Bowker
R. R. Bowker LLC (trading as Bowker) is an American limited liability company domiciled under Delaware Limited Liability Company Law and based in Chatham, New Jersey. Among other things, Bowker provides bibliographic information on publishe ...
(1994);
** 20th ed.,
R.R. Bowker
R. R. Bowker LLC (trading as Bowker) is an American limited liability company domiciled under Delaware Limited Liability Company Law and based in Chatham, New Jersey. Among other things, Bowker provides bibliographic information on publishe ...
(1998);
** 21st ed.,
Gale Group
Gale is a global provider of research and digital learning resources. The company is based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, west of Detroit. It has been a division of Cengage since 2007.
The company, formerly known as Gale Research and the Gale G ...
(2003);
** 22nd ed.,
Thomson Gale
Gale is a global provider of research and digital learning resources. The company is based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, west of Detroit. It has been a division of Cengage since 2007.
The company, formerly known as Gale Research and the Gale G ...
(2005);
** 23rd ed.,
Thomson Gale
Gale is a global provider of research and digital learning resources. The company is based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, west of Detroit. It has been a division of Cengage since 2007.
The company, formerly known as Gale Research and the Gale G ...
(2006);
* ''Who's Who in Science and Engineering'' (3rd ed., 1996–1997,
Marquis Who's Who
Marquis Who's Who ( or ) is an American publisher of a number of directories containing short biographies. The books usually are entitled ''Who's Who in...'' followed by some subject, such as ''Who's Who in America'', ''Who's Who of American Wome ...
(1996);
* ''Who's Who in the West'',
Marquis Who's Who
Marquis Who's Who ( or ) is an American publisher of a number of directories containing short biographies. The books usually are entitled ''Who's Who in...'' followed by some subject, such as ''Who's Who in America'', ''Who's Who of American Wome ...
;
** 15th ed., 1976-1977 (1976)
** 16th ed., 1978-1979 (1978)
** 17th ed., 1980-1981 (1980)
** 18th ed., 1982-1983 (1982)
** 19th ed., 1984-1985 (1983)
; Inline citations
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eargle, John M.
American electrical engineers
American acoustical engineers
American audio engineers
20th-century American inventors
Grammy Award winners
Academy Award for Technical Achievement winners
1931 births
2007 deaths
University of North Texas College of Music alumni
Eastman School of Music alumni
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumni
Cockrell School of Engineering alumni
Cooper Union alumni
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Fellows of the Acoustical Society of America