LAS VEGAS, NV — Gregory “Loop” Looper passed away after a brief illness on June 3, 2020 at University Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 49.
Born July 1, 1970, Looper attended Douglas MacArthur High School in San Antonio and joined the U.S. Marine Corps after graduation. After his stint in the Marines, he began a career working as a recording and live sound engineer, doing FOH mixing, systems engineering and monitors for a long list of top acts including Van Halen, Mudcrunch, NAS, Beck, Widespread Panic, Aerosmith, American Idol, Scorpions, Tesla, Keith Emerson, Whitesnake, Dokken, Black Crowes, the Allman Brothers Band, John Mellencamp and many more.
In 2007, Looper co-founded BaR Audio, a company specializing in supplying Pro Tools HD recording systems for tours. Looper was also a creative and skilled engineer/producer in the studio environment and worked on a number of projects for Unkledunk Records. However, he was probably best known for his 15 years of mixing monitors for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and he was awarded the industry’s prestigious Parnelli Award for “Monitor Mixer of the Year” in 2018.
Greg is survived by his sisters, Janda Hairston and Debra Otness and their spouses, Bill and Scott; three nephews, Colin Hairston, Tyler Hairston, and Tommy Otness; and three nieces, Alison Reams, Emily Bernhard, Anna Otness; aunts and uncles, Phil and Clifteen Samuelson, Darrell and Laverne Birdwell; and cousins, Steven Samuelson, Lisa Cole, David Birdwell, and Michael Birdwell. Greg leaves behind many friends and colleagues who were an important part of his life as they worked together all over the world.
He was preceded in death by parents, Vernon and Lou Looper; and his beloved oldest sister, Rulaine Pittman.
A memorial service was held June 26, 2020. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: the Recording Academy’s MusiCares program (In Memory of Greg Looper); www.grammy.com/MusiCares/donations/
