LAS VEGAS — The governing body of the Parnelli Awards announces that FOH engineer Stanley Miller has joined its Board of Advisors. Miller is one of the most respected and admired engineers in live sound, and was honored with a Parnelli Award Audio Innovator Award in 2009. He’s been Neil Diamond’s engineer for more than four decades.
“Stan is one of the most important, most influential people who ever sat behind an audio console,” says Terry Lowe, Parnelli Executive Director and publisher of PLSN and FRONT of HOUSE magazines. “His experience, energy, talent, and insight will add much to our Parnelli Board of Advisors. We look forward to his contributions and his good humor!”
“I’m humbled to join the Parnelli Board and work with such a talented group,” Miller says, adding with a laugh: “I plan to start every meeting with a round of ear-piercing pink noise!”
Miller’s technical achievements are dazzling: He was one of the first to hang speakers, through a steel cable/drum winch system of his own making, and he was the first to use multi-core snakes allowing for easier cable hookup. He was the first to take a graphic EQ with third-octave Altec passive filters on the road. In the 1970’s through the 1990’s, he was also an audio product manufacturer, owning Stanal Sound where he created the high-powered, high-end Stanley Screamers for Altec. Later, he consulted with the pro audio company JBL to create advanced speakers and rigging for touring as well. He pioneered the used of fiberglass covering for road cases and loudspeakers, making them so reliable that many of his boxes are still on the road 30 years later. His work with Yamaha contributed to the development of the PMD1 and PMD5 digital consoles.
With Diamond, Miller designed the sound system and worked front of house for all of his historic and record-breaking world tours. He was also behind the recording of Hot August Night, recorded at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles in 1972. Miller was audio designer/consultant for what The New York Times called “a milestone in rock’s history:” Pink Floyd’s “The Wall — Live” concert in 1981.
A brief flirt with retirement didn’t take, and at 74, Miller is gleefully heading back out with Diamond for another world tour. “Don’t ever forget it, we still rock!” he says.
This year, the Parnelli Awards will be held in Las Vegas on October 24, 2015. For more info about the Parnelli Awards, go to parnelliawards.com .
