In Memoriam: Michael J. Graphix, 1957-2024
SAN RAFAEL, CA — The industry was saddened to hear the news that on Nov. 26, 2024, audio veteran Michael J. Graphix passed away after losing his long fight with esophageal cancer. He was 67.
Hailing from Johnson City, in upstate New York, Graphix attended Johnson City High School, followed by studies at State University of New York College, Buffalo, where he earned degrees in architecture and broadcast engineering. But those career directions were forever changed when he began working in local bars, mixing sound for free drinks and $25 cash per night. Once he became reasonably proficient, he went on to mixing regional tours in the Northeast. A summer job collecting geological samples across the U.S. led to the San Francisco Bay Area where he eventually relocated.
Seemingly, there was no job in sound reinforcement that Graphix hadn’t done, ranging from roadying; to the aforementioned FOH mixing; to AVL integration; and systems engineering for Metallica; other gigs including working briefly with U2, Nine Inch Nails, Hiroshima and a 15-year stint with Barry Manilow.
As George Harrison once said, “All Things Must Pass,” and Graphix gave up the tour-bus life for more stable employment, starting with three years as the event logistics manager for the Sony Metreon center in downtown San Francisco. This was followed by a decade with San Francisco’s 4,400 square-foot Kanbar Hall theater in the city’s Jewish Community Center Complex.
The year 2014 proved particularly significant to Graphix. He married his life-love Claudia Lomeli-Graphix and took the position of technical director (and later director of production) of the $64-million, state of the art SFJAZZ performing arts center.
Graphix later set out on his own as an independent production consultant, founding Geese Engineering, which he continued until joining the team at leading integrator Advanced Systems Group, LLC in 2021 as crew lead — a position he held until a year ago, when the cancer he was fighting took a downturn, metastasizing through his entire body, making work impossible.
After living in long-term hospice care, Graphix finally passed away on Nov. 26, 2024. He is survived by his loving wife Claudia and their son Lucca and will always be remembered by his many friends and colleagues in the industry. Farewell, old friend. Rest well — you will be missed.
At press time, there was no word on a memorial service.
