AUSTIN, TX — Sound engineer and longtime Meyer Sound exec Mike Cooper passed away on August 15, 2018 after a brief battle with cancer. He was 70.
Born August 12, 1948 in Spicewood, TX, Cooper attended A&M Consolidated High School, College Station, TX and Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches, TX). He began his career by playing bass and guitar in local bands, including at Austin’s legendary Armadillo Club. With his interest in audio, he ending up working at the venue, mixing sound for regional — and occasionally national — acts as well as freelancing with various local sound companies. After a few years in the Austin area, he began touring with headline rock groups. Cooper was an early adopter of Meyer Sound’s cutting-edge technologies, and as the monitor engineer for Styx, he configured a complete Meyer Sound monitor rig for the band’s 1983 “Kilroy Was Here” tour.
Cooper liked road life and had a successful career as an in-demand engineer, but eventually settled down into a more stable existence, joining Meyer Sound in 1995 as director of sales for Asia and soon after, was promoted to international sales director, a post he held until his retirement in late 2015. During his tenure, Meyer Sound’s international presence moved rapidly from a position of a relative newcomer to become a major player in the global sound reinforcement market — including establishing Meyer in the Chinese market.
“Mike was amazing. He did so much of the groundwork to really put Meyer Sound on the map,” says executive VP Helen Meyer. “He helped us develop new products, and new customers he brought when he first started in the mid-90’s are still with us today. He was very focused and committed to always doing the job the best way possible.”
Beyond his success as a sales executive, Cooper will be remembered for his charm and wit. “Mike was close to so many people here and everybody loved him,” recalls Helen Meyer. “He was intelligent and sophisticated, with a great sense of humor and an innate sense of how to treat people. He was inspiring in so many ways. He will be missed, not just here at Meyer Sound but throughout the industry.”
Cooper is survived by his sister Kelly and son Casey. A memorial get-together for Cooper is set for noon, October 14, 2018 at Threadgills, 301 W. Riverside Drive, in Austin. Anyone interested in attending should RSVP to Casey Cooper at 512/944-7822.
