Walter Sear
Encyclopedia
Walter Edmond Sear was an American recording engineer, instrument importer, instrument designer, inventor, composer, tuba player, movie producer, synthesizer pioneer, and vintage recording equipment guru. Since 1970 he ran the legendary Sear Sound recording studio in New York City, which is known for its vast collection of vintage analog recording gear and is patronized by bands such as Sonic Youth
, Steely Dan
, Wynton Marsalis
, and Paul McCartney
.
, Sear moved with his family to Jackson Heights, Queens
at the age of one. Sear started out his long and varied career as a classical tuba player. After 4 years at the Curtis Institute of Music
, he landed a job as principal tuba of the Philadelphia Orchestra
. He later was a freelancer in New York City, playing for 6 years with the Radio City Music Hall
pit orchestra as well as The Symphony of the Air, The Goldman Band, Sound of Music, and numerous commercial studio dates.
In the late 1950s, he became interested in tuba design and began importing European tubas made to his own specifications from the Czech company Cerveny and the Belgian companies De Prins and Mahillion. He sold these tubas from a Manhattan showroom. These tubas, popular because of their relatively low price, unique design and quality workmanship, are typically engraved with the name "Walter E. Sear, NYC" on the bell. Sear estimates that he produced about 2000 of these tubas. His background in chemistry at Temple University with BA degree from The George Washington University helped with the metallurgical processes that he innovated. He also holds a B.M. from The Catholic University of America and has done doctoral studies at Columbia University.
In the late 1950s, he became friendly with Robert Moog
after buying parts from him for a homemade Theremin
. In the early 1960s, Sear used his music industry connections to become Moog's sales agent and business partner. He encouraged Moog to make his synths more practical, eventually leading, in the late 1960s, to the development of portable synthesizers which could be used in live performance. Sear also became known as a performer and composer on the Moog synthesizer
for various movie soundtracks including Midnight Cowboy
.
Sear's pop compositions were also heard on his Command Records
album, The Copper-Plated Integrated Circuit.
He built his first recording studio in 1964 as one of the first commercial electronic music studios. Sear Sound is the oldest recording studio in New York City, and boasts over 285 vintage and contemporary microphones, four rebuilt Studer
recorders used by the Beatles at Abbey Road
, and one of the earliest Moog synthesizers, built by Sear with Moog.
Sear has an Honorable Discharge from the regular United States Air Force with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served at Bolling AFB in Washington, D.C. Sear died on April 29, 2010 in New York.
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
, Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
, Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis is a trumpeter, composer, bandleader, music educator, and Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis has promoted the appreciation of classical and jazz music often to young audiences...
, and Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
.
History
Born in New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Sear moved with his family to Jackson Heights, Queens
Jackson Heights, Queens
Jackson Heights is a neighborhood in the Northwestern portion of the borough of Queens in New York, New York, United States. The neighborhood is part of Queens Community Board 3...
at the age of one. Sear started out his long and varied career as a classical tuba player. After 4 years at the Curtis Institute of Music
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a conservatory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera, and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. According to statistics compiled by U.S...
, he landed a job as principal tuba of the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
. He later was a freelancer in New York City, playing for 6 years with the Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
pit orchestra as well as The Symphony of the Air, The Goldman Band, Sound of Music, and numerous commercial studio dates.
In the late 1950s, he became interested in tuba design and began importing European tubas made to his own specifications from the Czech company Cerveny and the Belgian companies De Prins and Mahillion. He sold these tubas from a Manhattan showroom. These tubas, popular because of their relatively low price, unique design and quality workmanship, are typically engraved with the name "Walter E. Sear, NYC" on the bell. Sear estimates that he produced about 2000 of these tubas. His background in chemistry at Temple University with BA degree from The George Washington University helped with the metallurgical processes that he innovated. He also holds a B.M. from The Catholic University of America and has done doctoral studies at Columbia University.
In the late 1950s, he became friendly with Robert Moog
Robert Moog
Robert Arthur Moog , commonly called Bob Moog was an American pioneer of electronic music, best known as the inventor of the Moog synthesizer.-Life:...
after buying parts from him for a homemade Theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
. In the early 1960s, Sear used his music industry connections to become Moog's sales agent and business partner. He encouraged Moog to make his synths more practical, eventually leading, in the late 1960s, to the development of portable synthesizers which could be used in live performance. Sear also became known as a performer and composer on the Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
for various movie soundtracks including Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy is a 1969 American drama film based on the 1965 novel of the same name by James Leo Herlihy. It was written by Waldo Salt, directed by John Schlesinger, and stars Dustin Hoffman and newcomer Jon Voight in the title role. Notable smaller roles are filled by Sylvia Miles, John...
.
Sear's pop compositions were also heard on his Command Records
Command Records
Command Records was a record label founded by Enoch Light in 1959 and later associated with ABC-Paramount Records....
album, The Copper-Plated Integrated Circuit.
He built his first recording studio in 1964 as one of the first commercial electronic music studios. Sear Sound is the oldest recording studio in New York City, and boasts over 285 vintage and contemporary microphones, four rebuilt Studer
Studer
Studer is a Swiss manufacturer of professional audio equipment, founded in Zurich in 1948 by Willi Studer. It is known primarily for the design and manufacture of analog tape recorders and mixing consoles. Studer also produce other technology solutions, such as telephony management systems and...
recorders used by the Beatles at Abbey Road
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
, and one of the earliest Moog synthesizers, built by Sear with Moog.
Sear has an Honorable Discharge from the regular United States Air Force with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served at Bolling AFB in Washington, D.C. Sear died on April 29, 2010 in New York.