Photo Credit: David Heath


​Click to hear Bill Hanley at Woodstock

 The god of music dwelleth outdoors...
~Edith Matilda Thomas


​Welcome!

In my book and film "The Last Seat in the House: The Story of Hanley Sound" I examine how sound engineer pioneer Bill Hanley’s contributions in outdoor live sound helped create entire music production industry. Through an extensive nine-year interview and archival process, I uncover how Hanley and his company--Hanley Sound--impacted a developing festival and concert marketplace.  

Thus far: Sam Cutler ( Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones) Bob Pridden (The Who), Barry Tashian, Bil Briggs & Vern Miller (Barry and The Remains), Vince Martell (Vanilla Fudge), Rick Derringer (The McCoys, Johnny and Edgar Winter), John Sebastian (The Lovin' Spoonful), Johnny Winter, Sam Andrew (Big Brother and the Holding Company), Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter Yarrow & Paul Noel Stookey (Peter Paul & Mary), Wavy Gravy, Jesse Colin Young (The Youngbloods), Leo Lyons and Ric Lee (Ten Years After), Larry Taylor (Canned Heat), Bob and Paul Cowsill (The Cowsill's), Bruce Johnston (The Beach Boys), Melanie Safka, Tom Rush, Jack Casady (The Jefferson Airplane), Chip Monck, Michael Lang, Artie Kornfeld, & Joel Rosenman (Woodstock), Country Joe McDonald, and Barry Melton (Country Joe and The Fish) and many more  have contributed to this project...

If you have any photos, film, or ephemera from the Hanley Sound history that you can contribute please contact John Kane.

Best Regards,
John Kane

The Last Seat in the House Copyright © 2011 John Kane. All rights reserved