Bill Porter (sound engineer)

Bill Porter is an American sound engineer who recorded such stars as Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison through the 1960s and 1970s. He also did concert sound for Elvis for seven years in the 1970s. In one week of 1960, his recordings accounted for 15 of Billboard Magazine's "Top 100," a feat no one has ever matched.

Recording career

Working with legendary guitarist and producer Chet Atkins, Porter became the engineer big name artists wanted to work with, and was influential in creating the Nashville Sound. He recorded a total of 579+ chart records - 49 were top 10, 11 number ones, and 37 were certified gold records. Most were recorded at RCA's Studio B in Nashville. [cite web | url=http://www.audio-ideas.com/columns/supersounds_wtr2000.html | title=Audiophile Elvis From Bill Porter, RCA, & DCC | date=2000 | accessdate=2007-02-12 | work=Audio Ideas Guide]

Porter recorded nearly all of Elvis Presley's number one hits upon his return from his tour with the U.S. Army in 1960. [cite web | url=http://royorbison.musiccitynetworks.com/?inc=5&news_id=7832 | title=Sound Engineer Bill Porter to Appear at Elvis Week August 2006 | date=2006-06-12 | accessdate=2007-02-12 | work=Music City Networks] Instead of the usual microphones used by RCA Porter chose to use a Telefunken U-47 on Presley's voice. [cite web | url=http://www.audio-ideas.com/columns/supersounds_wtr2000.html | title=Audiophile Elvis From Bill Porter, RCA, & DCC | date=2000 | accessdate=2007-02-12 | work=Audio Ideas Guide] He engineered "Are You Lonesome Tonight," "It's Now or Never," and "Suspicious Minds."

Porter left RCA in 1963 to manage the Monument studio where he then engineered many of Roy Orbison's greatest hits during this time, including "It's Over," "Only the Lonely," "Running Scared," the iconic ditty, "Oh, Pretty Woman." Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax" and Al Hirt's "Java" are other popular Porter recordings.

Porter traveled with Elvis Presley from 1969–1977 and recorded the Live in Las Vegas shows. [cite web | url=http://royorbison.musiccitynetworks.com/?inc=5&news_id=7832 | title=Sound Engineer Bill Porter to Appear at Elvis Week August 2006 | date=2006-06-12 | accessdate=2007-02-12 | work=Music City Networks]

Porter was the first sound engineer to be inducted into New York's Audio Hall of Fame in 1989.

Bill Porter's Chart Toppers

These recordings by Bill Porter made it to #1 on the Billboard Chart:
* The Browns - "Three Bells" (1959)
* The Everly Brothers - "Cathy's Clown" (1960)
* Elvis Presley - "Stuck on You" (1960)
* Elvis Presley - "It's Now or Never" (1960)
* Elvis Presley - "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" (1960)
* Elvis Presley - "Surrender" (1960)
* Roy Orbison - "Running Scared" (1961)
* Roy Orbison - "Pretty Woman" (1961)
* Tommy Roe - "Sheila" (1962)
* Elvis Presley - "Good Luck Charm" (1962)
* Elvis Presley - "Suspicious Minds" (1969)

Education

Porter is currently Emeritus Special Lecturer at the Webster University School of Communications in St. Louis, Missouri. Never having graduated college himself, Porter created and co-authored the first college level curriculum for the craft of Audio Engineering. Porter was the first director of recording services, heading the teaching staff and audio facilities, for the Music Engineering program at the University of Miami School of Music beginning in 1976. Porter’s pioneering techniques; methodology and curriculum are still taught in many colleges and universities across the United States. [cite web | url=http://royorbison.musiccitynetworks.com/?inc=5&news_id=7832 | title=Sound Engineer Bill Porter to Appear at Elvis Week August 2006 | date=2006-06-12 | accessdate=2007-02-12 | work=Music City Networks]

References

External links

* [http://www.musicangle.com/feat.php?id=107 Bill Porter talks to Michael Fremer (1987) - Part 1]
* [http://www.musicangle.com/feat.php?id=108 Bill Porter talks to Michael Fremer (1987) - Part 2]