Abe Jacob

For the New Zealand wrestler, see Abe Jacobs.
Abe Jacob
Jacob receiving Special Tony Award 2024
Born
Abe John Jacob

(1944-10-07) October 7, 1944 (age 80)
Tucson, Arizona
Alma materLoyola Marymount University
Occupation(s)Sound designer, live sound audio engineer
EmployerMcCune Sound
Known for

Abe John Jacob (born October 7, 1944) is an American sound designer and audio engineer. Called the "Godfather of Sound",[1][2] Jacob greatly influenced the design of sound reinforcement in modern musical theatre, and was one of the first persons credited in the role of sound designer on Broadway,[3][4] with a sound designer credit in Playbill in 1971.[5]

Jacob brought many new techniques to musical theatre, including head-worn wireless microphones, powerful concert loudspeakers with dedicated electronic processing, delayed speaker zones, under-balcony speakers, front-fill speakers, mix position in the audience, FFT analysis, scene recall, digital mixing consoles, and delay used to focus audience attention. Jacob sparked the creation of the Meyer Sound Laboratories UPA loudspeaker, which became their flagship product.[6]

In 1998, Jacob won an Ovation Award for his sound design of Harriet's Return at the Geffen Playhouse.[7] He never received a Tony Award, largely because the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League began giving out Tony Awards for sound design in 2008 after his career highlights. He served on the Tony Award committee from 2011 to 2014, but then the committee halted the sound design category.[8] Lighting designer Jules Fisher, Jacob's colleague on many productions, said that Jacob should have won a Tony Award in 1978 for Dancin'.[9] Jacob is set to receive a Special Tony Award for "modern theatrical sound design" in June 2024 at the 77th Tony Awards at Lincoln Center.[10]

In 1999, the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) bestowed upon Jacob the Distinguished Achievement in Sound Award. The same year, Jacob received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the EDDY Awards sponsored by Entertainment Design magazine.[11] In 2008, the USITT gave Jacob their highest award, the USITT Award, and they commissioned the organization's first audio engineering monograph, titled The Designs of Abe Jacob.[3] In 2016, Jacob was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Live Design Awards ceremony.[12] In 2017, the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association (TSDCA) granted Jacob the Distinguished Sound Designer Award.[13]

  1. ^ Coakley, Jacob (March 1, 2014). "The Godfather of Sound". Stage Directions. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  2. ^ "Behind the Scenes with Broadway Sound Designer Abe Jacob – April 7". Lighting & Sound America. PLASA Media. March 24, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Thomas, Richard K. "Rick" (March 2008). "Sound Programming to Boom at Conference". Sightlines. 48 (3). United States Institute for Theatre Technology. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  4. ^ Pierce, Jerald Raymond (July 2, 2019). "Hearing the Difference". American Theatre. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  5. ^ "Roles List: Abe Jacob". Playbill. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  6. ^ "Meyer Sound celebrates 30th anniversary". Pro Mail. Messe Frankfurt. March 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2009.
  7. ^ Thomas 2008, p. 90.
  8. ^ Gioia, Michael (May 24, 2016). "What Is Sound Design, and Why Did It Lose Its Tony?". Playbill.
  9. ^ Thomas 2008, p. 62.
  10. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (May 2, 2024). "Alex Edelman, Nikiya Mathis, More to Receive Special Tony Awards". Playbill. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  11. ^ McBride, Murdoch (December 10, 1999). "Theatre Luminaries Present 1999 Eddy Awards, Dec. 10". Playbill. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  12. ^ Staff (May 18, 2016). "Broadway Sound Designer Abe Jacob to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Live Design Awards". Broadway World. Wisdom Digital Media. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  13. ^ Staff (December 12, 2017). "Distinguished Sound Designer Abe Jacob". Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association. Retrieved August 29, 2019.