Me with Jim in Pacific Grove, CA Mentor and Friend
My fondest memories were working with this amazing man and mentor, many many years ago. His name was Jim Meagher, the owner of Meagher Electronics, a recording studio/electronic repair shop in Monterey, California. He also specialized in public address systems and sound installations. I was lucky to be an intern at his establishment. I was 15 and worked late at night tinkering with old TVs and tape machines. He taught me the basics of electronics and great tips like what to do if you grab the hot soldering iron with your bare your hands, which happens more than you think. It was a simple trick of licking the area of contact on your skin as fast as you can, before the heat works its way deeper into the skin.
Jim was a sound engineer at the Monterey Pop Festival in ‘67 where Jimi Hendrix showcased to the world his talent. He would also tell stories of how Janis Joplin first recorded at his studio, which was always a treat to hear. We got to do many sound events at local celebrations, including great concerts featuring Cal Jader and other jazz performers.
Even though Jim was in the age of tube amplifiers and 1/4” reel-to-reel tape machines, he practiced recording methods still used today. He had a constant focus in achieving optimum results in all the work he did. He adapted and was always in sync with the changing technology around him, as he would always say "the basics are still the basics."
For others who knew him, they would shake their heads in agitation as Jim was a non-stop talker. You could easily be stuck with him for hours before you had a chance to stop him. I had to endure many of his long conversations, but I found that he was a wealth of knowledge and was always willing to explain things whenever you asked. He was a kind man, an excellent teacher and a friend. I miss him.
Note: The photo is of us setting up our instant audio booth at the Pacific Grove Singing Christmas Tree event (1979). We rented a small U-haul truck and parked it behind the stage while setting up until the late hours of the evening. This was normal for us.
Wikipedia source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meagher_Electronics
My fondest memories were working with this amazing man and mentor, many many years ago. His name was Jim Meagher, the owner of Meagher Electronics, a recording studio/electronic repair shop in Monterey, California. He also specialized in public address systems and sound installations. I was lucky to be an intern at his establishment. I was 15 and worked late at night tinkering with old TVs and tape machines. He taught me the basics of electronics and great tips like what to do if you grab the hot soldering iron with your bare your hands, which happens more than you think. It was a simple trick of licking the area of contact on your skin as fast as you can, before the heat works its way deeper into the skin.
Jim was a sound engineer at the Monterey Pop Festival in ‘67 where Jimi Hendrix showcased to the world his talent. He would also tell stories of how Janis Joplin first recorded at his studio, which was always a treat to hear. We got to do many sound events at local celebrations, including great concerts featuring Cal Jader and other jazz performers.
Even though Jim was in the age of tube amplifiers and 1/4” reel-to-reel tape machines, he practiced recording methods still used today. He had a constant focus in achieving optimum results in all the work he did. He adapted and was always in sync with the changing technology around him, as he would always say "the basics are still the basics."
For others who knew him, they would shake their heads in agitation as Jim was a non-stop talker. You could easily be stuck with him for hours before you had a chance to stop him. I had to endure many of his long conversations, but I found that he was a wealth of knowledge and was always willing to explain things whenever you asked. He was a kind man, an excellent teacher and a friend. I miss him.
Note: The photo is of us setting up our instant audio booth at the Pacific Grove Singing Christmas Tree event (1979). We rented a small U-haul truck and parked it behind the stage while setting up until the late hours of the evening. This was normal for us.
Wikipedia source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meagher_Electronics
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