Photo Credit: David Heath


​Click to hear Bill Hanley at Woodstock

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

Welcome!

Through my documentary "The Last Seat in the House" I will examine how  sound engineer pioneer Bill  Hanley’s contributions in outdoor live sound shifted an entire music industry.  Comparatively, what are/were these lasting changes?  Where would the modern outdoor festival be without his musical innovations?  These are some of the engagements which create the foundation of my proposed hypothesis for this film and research...which is...that Bill Hanley did in fact create a shift in what now has gone on to be a billion dollar industry in sound. Through an extensive 5 year long interview and archival process I have uncovered  Bill Hanley’s contributions within the field of festival and concert sound.  Bill Hanley is a pioneer, innovator and  truly the father of festival sound. 

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)  have all contributed to this film and research...

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

Regards,
John Kane

Click photo for Wicked Local  Article.

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