There are many ideas, methods, and formulas that we use in our daily audio lives that have someone's name on them. In many cases, those ideas, methods, and formulas were recognized as being as important as they are and the creators/idea people received an award from a professional organization for those creations.
The Audio Engineering Society has several awards that it gives for high achievement; one of them has the mundane title of "Honorary Member", and is the only one that can be received by non-members, even though Members may also receive it.
A friend of the Pacific Northwest Section of the AES received this award in 2011, and when we were trying to put his reception in context of the other recipients ran into a confusing listing system which dilutes the relation to other recipients as well as provided no information about what those recipients did to receive the award. So one of our members decided to compile this list and put as much information into it, including links to further information.
We hope you enjoy learning about what some of the giants of our industry did to be recognized and to create and discover principles which are fundamental to our work.
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COMPLETE LIST OF AES HONORARY MEMBERS (“A person of outstanding reputation and eminence in the science of audio engineering or its allied arts.” Open to AES members, and the only award open to non-members):
1952
Harvey S. Fletcher “Father of Stereophonic Sound”; original research into Critical Bands; Fletcher-Munson Loudness Curves
http://www.byhigh.org/History/Fletcher/DrHarvey.htmlFrederick V. Hunt Harvard physicist, proposed the idea of low-frequency sonar
http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~hua14001Vern O. Knudsen American acoustical physicist, author, UCLA Chancellor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vern_Oliver_Knudsen1953
Edward C. Wente The condenser microphone was invented in 1916 at Bell Laboratories by Edward Christopher 'E.C.' Wente; Patented in 1936 by Edward C. Wente of Western Electric,[8] multicell horns...
http://svconline.com/loudspeakers/features/ec_wente_unsung_audio_pioneer_0106/1954
Harold S. Black (1898–1983), invented the concept of negative feedback amplifiers in 1927. He managed to develop stable negative feedback amplifiers in the 1930s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Stephen_Black1955
Leo L. Beranek Acoustician, author, MIT professor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_BeranekWilliam L. Everitt radar pioneer and author of basic texts on radio engineering and communication. He invented automatic telephone equipment, a "time compressor" to accelerate recorded speech, high-power radio amplification, a frequency modulation radio altimeter, and several antenna matching and feeding systems.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_L._Everitt F.E. Terman Stanford professor, widely credited (along with William Shockley) as being the father of Silicon Valley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Terman1956
Walter S. Barrell unknown obit: JAES 9:3, p. 230 (1961)
J. Warren Horton Sonar.
www.teradyne.com/corp/grhs/pdf/GRX1930Jun.pdfPeter L. Jensen first practical application of moving-coil loudspeakers, along with Edwin S. Pridham. Founders of Magnavox
www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/jaes.obit/JAES_V10_1_PG096.pdfJ.A. Pierce unknown
Edwin S. Pridham first practical application of moving-coil loudspeakers, along with Peter L. Jensen. Founders of Magnavox
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagnavoxH.J. von Braunmuhl With Walter Weber, invented Gefell M7 capsule used in U47 and M49, and AC high frequency bias for tape recording.
www.richardhess.com/tape/history/Engel--Walter_Weber_2006.pdf1957
Loy E. Barton Set forth the principle of high-level Class B plate modulation
http://www.rwonline.com/article/loy-barton-a-forgotten-radio-pioneer/18284Warren P. Mason The most prolific inventor in the history of Bell Telephone Laboratories, having been granted 191 patents.
http://acousticalsociety.org/about/awards/gold/12_10_10_masonHarry Nyquist As an engineer at Bell Laboratories, Nyquist did important work on thermal noise ("Johnson–Nyquist noise"),[1] the stability of feedback amplifiers, telegraphy, facsimile, television, and other important communications problems. With Herbert E. Ives, he helped to develop AT&T's first facsimile machines that were made public in 1924. In 1932, he published a classical paper on stability of feedback amplifiers.[2] The Nyquist stability criterion can now be found in all textbooks on feedback control theory.
His early theoretical work on determining the bandwidth requirements for transmitting information laid the foundations for later advances by Claude Shannon, which led to the development of information theory. In particular, Nyquist determined that the number of independent pulses that could be put through a telegraph channel per unit time is limited to twice the bandwidth of the channel, and published his results in the paper Certain topics in Telegraph Transmission Theory (1924).[3] This rule is essentially a dual of what is now known as the Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_NyquistHarry F. OlsonIn1934, he was placed in charge of acoustical research at RCA. At RCA, Olson worked on a wide range of projects, which included developing microphones for the broadcasting and motion picture industries, improving loudspeakers, and making significant contributions to magnetic tape recording. Like many engineers of the World War II generation, Olson also made significant contributions to military technology as well, particularly to the fields of underwater sound and anti-submarine warfare. After the war Olson, along with Herbert Belar, developed the first modern electronic synthesizer. Equipped with electron tubes, the Mark II Sound Synthesizer was used to compose music, which was recorded and sold to the public.
A prolific inventor and engineer, Olson won more than 100 patents for the various types of microphones (including the widely used 44- and 77-series), cardioid (directional) microphones, loudspeaker baffles, air-suspension loudspeakers, isobaric loudspeakers, early video recording equipment, audio recording equipment, phonograph pickups, underwater sound equipment, noise reduction, sound technology in motion-pictures, and public-address systems he developed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_F._Olson1958
Hendrik W. Bode Great engineering philosopher. widely known to modern engineering students mainly for developing the asymptotic magnitude and phase plot that bears his name, the Bode plot.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hendrik_Wade_BodeGilbert F. Dutton Head of Recording Research in EMI's Central Research Laboratories
http://www.gramophone.net/Issue/Page/April%201979//732277/Obituary+%2819021979%29Les Paul Guitarist, innovator, modern recording pioneer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_PaulLeopold Stokowski Conductor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_Stokowski1959
Leonard Bernstein Conductor, composer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_BernsteinE. Power Biggs Organist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Power_BiggsF. Langford Smith Radiotron Designers Handbook
http://www.amazon.com/Radiotron-Designers-Langford-Editor-Smith/dp/B000XTUPD0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303968305&sr=8-11960
Otto W. Kornei Assisted Chester Carlson in invention of Xerox copying
LINKMiklos Rozsa One of the founding fathers of film music
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miklos_RozsaW.W. Wetzel V-P of 3M magnetic tape
Link1961
Frank C. McIntosh Possibly founder of McIntosh Laboratory, high end audio mfr.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McIntosh_Laboratory1962
C.J. LeBel Founding Chair of AES
www.aes.org/aeshc/pdf/how.the.aes.began/pickering.pdf1964
Ernst A. Guillemin MIT professor, linear systems analysis and synthesis. Teacher of Thomas Stockham
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_A._Guillemin1965
Walt Disney Creator of Mickey Mouse and entertainment empire
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney1967
Sherman M. Fairchild Inventor and serial entrepreneur. Held over 30 patents for products ranging from silicon semiconductor to 8mm home sound movie camera.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman_M._Fairchild1968
Erich Leinsdorf Conductor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Leinsdorf1969
Peter C. Goldmark Instrumental in development of LP record while at CBS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_C._Goldmark1970
Marvin Camras Electrical engineer and inventor influential in magnetic recording
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_CamrasEdward H. Uecke Capitol Records Chief Engineer
LINK1971
Georg Neumann Founder of Georg Neuman GmbH, maker of first commercially available condenser microphone
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Neumann1972
Benjamin B. Bauer AES President 1969, CBS Technology Center (Laboratories) stereo quadraphonic LP
www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/jaes.obit/JAES_V27_4_PG336.pdf http://www.aip.org/history/ead/20090240_content.htmlHugh S. Knowles Hearing Aid pioneer
http://www.amazon.com/Now-Hear-This-Acoustical-Enterpreneur/dp/0966505123http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_S._KnowlesWinston E. Kock Electronic organ researcher, inventor of Baldwin organ
http://www.pykett.org.uk/drkock.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_E._KockHenry E. Roys RCA labs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_E._RoysPercy Wilson Technical Editor for Gramophone magazine, contributed to record player tone arm design, invented first record cleaning machine
http://www.keithmonks-rcm.co.uk/makinghistory.html1973
William S. Bachman Phono cartridge development
http://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=171Murray G. Crosby “For contributions to the technical advances in stereophonic FM multiplex broadcasting”
www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/jaes.obit/JAES_V22_7_PG589.pdfCyril M. Harris Acoustician (Benaroya Hall, among many others), author (with Vern O. Knudsen “Acoustical Designing in Architecture”)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_M._HarrisKenzo Nagai Did research into AC tape bias in Japan, co-awarded Japanese patent in 1940.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tape_biasJ. Guy Woodward Past President of AES; RCA Laboratories, worked on recording video onto magnetic tape.
LINK1974
Paul G.A.H. Voight British audio researcher and builder in 1920's and 30's, research into horn loaded loudspeakers
LINKhttp://www.roger-russell.com/eico/citation.htm1975
Gilbert A. Briggs Wharfdale loudspeakers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_BriggsAvery Fisher Invented transistorized amplifier and stereo radio-phonograph. Fisher Radio.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avery_FisherMark B. Gardner Possibly invented ABX testing method
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=50909Bell Labs, localization effects
http://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=1782John T. Mullin After WWII, brought German tape recorders to America. Worked with Ampex to refine tape-based recording.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_T._MullinJohan L. Ooms (former chief engineer for electro acoustics at PPI) organized first European meeting of AES (found in “1971” in
http://www.emil-berliner-studios.com/en/chronik4.html )
obit: JAES 49:11, p. 1120 (2001)
Eugene Ormandy Conductor and violinist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_OrmandyAlexander M. Poniatoff Founder of AMPEX
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_M._Poniatoff1976
Per V. Bruel Bruel & Kjaer
Duane H. Cooper AES President 1975-76, did research into phonographic stylus-groove interface
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duane_H._CooperW. Rex Isom former chief engineer of RCA Records, guest edited the special issue of the JAES dedicated to the centennary of sound recording and reproduction. (
http://www.davidsarnoff.org/bibindex.html under “Sound Recording and Reproduction”)
http://www.rane.com/par-num.html under “33 1/3”
Erik R. Madsen unknown
1977
Lothar W. Cremer His work has contributed significantly to the scientific foundations of structure-borne noise, impact noise isolation, sound radiation and sound excitation of structures, building acoustics, the physics of stringed musical instruments, the acoustical design of dissipative mufflers, and to physical acoustics.
http://acousticalsociety.org/about/awards/gold/12_10_10_cremerArthur C. Haddy British Decca Records. Possible co-developer of “Decca Tree” microphone placement system (under “Technology developments” in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decca_Records , and on page 1 of Ron Streicher's article
LINKobit:
www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/jaes.obit/JAES_V38_5_PG413.pdfStefan Kudelski Creator of Nagra tape recorders
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefan_KudelskiDonald J. Plunkett AES Founding Member, President (1959). Worked for NBC, MGM Records, Capitol Records, Fairchild Recording Equipment.
www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/jaes.obit/JAES_V53_7_8_PG775.pdfWalter Reichart German scientist, studied electro acoustics and building acoustics, advocate of international standards.
http://www.coutant.org/bio.htmlHerbert von Karajan Conductor, very early advocate of compact disc technology.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_von_Karajan 1978
John M. Eargle Author, educator, recording engineer, AES President. JBL Senior Director, Product Development and Application
http://prosoundnews.com/article/13550Walter L. Welch Authority on early recordings and phonographs and founding director of the Belfer Audio Laboratory and Archive at Syracuse University. Author with Leah B. Stenzel Burt of a classic history book on the phonograph, "From Tin Foil to Stereo: The Acoustic Years of the Recording Industry." Authority on Thomas Edison.
http://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/06/nyregion/walter-welch-94-recordings-expert-founded-audio-lab.html1979
Pierre Boulez Composer, conductor, electronic music incubator
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_BoulezJohn G. McKnight Co-founder of Magnetic Reference Laboratory (MRL), extensive magnetic tape research. Pic with Bob Moses
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G._McKnightDonald W. Powers unknown obit: JAES 41:9, p. 745 (1993)
Michael Rettinger Acoustician, author
http://www.allbookstores.com/Michael-Rettinger/authorEmil L. Torick AES President; VP-Audio Technology, CBS Laboratories.
http://radiomagonline.com/currents/people/emil-torick-passes-0709/1980
Oskar Heil Developed concept of velocity-modulated tube, a significant milestone in development of microwave technology (particularly radar). Also invented “Heil Air Motion Transformer” audio speaker technology.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_HeilLeonard M. Marcus Author; Editor, High Fidelity Magazine
http://www.britannica.com/bps/user-profile/1901/Leonard-M.-MarcusWalter L. Rand unknown
Fritz Sennheiser Founder, Sennheiser Electronic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_SennheiserKobert Reynierson Smith Pioneer in the field of electroplating; coiner of word “Muzak” and perfected use of telephone lines for that purpose; devised first high-speed copper electroforming process.
www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/jaes.obit/JAES_V35_7_8_PG620.pdfJiri Struska unknown
1981
William L. Robinson “For his technical leadership and pioneering in the fields of broadcast and recording operation.”
LINK1982
Hugh S. Allen, Jr. V-P, Gotham Audio
LINKEberhard Zwicker German psychoacoustics researcher and author
www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/jaes.obit/JAES_V39_3_PG199.pdf1983
Wilhelm Franz German founder of Electro-Mess-Teknik (EMT), maker of turntables and plate reverb units
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elektro-Mess-TechnikRudolf Gorike Austrian founder of AKG Acoustics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AKG_AcousticsMax Grundig German founder of Grundig AG electronics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GrundigMilton T. (Bill) Putnam American founder of Universal Recording in Chicago, United and Western Recording inHollywood, Coast Recorders in San Francisco, and United Recording
Electronics Industries (UREI). Obit:
www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/jaes.obit/JAES_V37_6_PG532.pdf1984
Peter K. Burkowitz Developer of the REDD mixing desk which the Beatles used during their recordings at Abbey Road Studios in London
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Loeber1985
Amar Bose Founder of Bose Corp.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amar_BoseHermann Franz unknown
John G. Frayne With Robert Davis, developed the Westrex 3-A cutter head which truly launched the stereo LP record.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G._Frayne Obit: JAES 39:1, p. 103 (1991)
Friedrich Krones German “The Pope of Magnetic Tape” Agfa
Obit:
www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/jaes.obit/JAES_V34_9_PG763.pdfHarry McCune Californian, live sound reinforcement company pioneer.
http://www.mccune.com/about-harry-mccune-san-francisco/ Obit:
www.aessf.org/newsletters/JUN96A.PDFDouglas Sax Mastering engineer
http://www.themasteringlab.com/doug_sax.html1990
Masaru Ibuka Co-founder (with Akio Morita) of Sony
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaru_Ibuka1991
Robert O. Fehr Editor of JAES Obit: JAES 46:9, p. 810 (1998)
Wolfgang Kraak For his career-long contributions to the field of acoustic engineering and education that have resulted in numerous celebrated concert halls, instrumental help for the hard of hearing, better understanding of the effects of noise on humans, and engineering advancements in room acoustics.
1992
Tamas Tarnoczy Hungarian, in recognition of heading the ultrasonics research group at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences from 1950 to 1981, and for over 40 years of exemplary research output.
1993
Helmut Krueger For his outstanding contributions in the advancement of stereophonic recording and broadcasting.
http://e-collection.library.ethz.ch/list/author?author=Krueger%2C+Helmut/ Obit: JAES 45:1, p. 107 (1997)
1999
Chet Atkins American guitarist and producer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chet_AtkinsLorin Maazel American composer, conductor, violinist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorin_MaazelNorio Ohga Japanese President and CEO of Sony
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norio_Ohga2000
Sidney Harman American, harman/kardon Inc., Harman International Industries Inc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Harman2001
Patricia Macdonald Managing Editor JAES obit: JAES 51:9, p. 779 (2003)
2003
Julius (Jay) Fouts Lawyer and as legal advisor to the AES Board of Governors and Executive Committee.
http://business.highbeam.com/967/article-1G1-110968542/aes-presents-awardsRobert Sherwood Accountant and financial advisor to the AES Board of Governors and Executive Committee.
http://business.highbeam.com/967/article-1G1-110968542/aes-presents-awards2010
Sir George Martin English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_George_Martin2011
Frank Laico Columbia Records Inc. (later CBS) staff recording engineer for nearly 40 years; the only engineer whose recording career spanned wax discs to 48 track digital. He generously shared his history and knowledge with the Pacific Northwest Section late in his life.
2013
Ronald E. Uhlig Presented with the AES Honorary Membership Award in recognition of his pioneering engineering achievements to enhance the film sound experience for the audience, including the development of international standard setting technology that allowed stereo variable area soundtracks to replace monaural film sound, and later, the development of digital data read/write capability for 35mm digital audio.
2014
Steve Lillywhite For over four decades of exemplary contributions to music and recording industry, involving many of the most revered and successful musicians of this time.
Compiled by the AES PNW Subcommittee for Informative Trivia, Dan Mortensen, Chair 5/4/11
Well, that seem to all fit.
Dan