Roy Harter

Infobox musical artist | Name = Roy Harter


Img_capt = Roy Harter in his home studio, 2003
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Background =
Birth_name = Roy Gunther Harter
Alias =
Born = March 6, 1973 in Sunnyside, Queens, New York
Died =
Instrument = Keyboards, Theremin
Genre = Country, Rock, Dub, Experimental
Occupation = Sound Designer, Musician
Associated_Acts = Sonovagun, Dan Donnelly

Roy Harter (born March 6, 1973) is an American composer, music producer, audio engineer, and musician most known for his work in television and film. He is the owner of the post-production facility Skinnyman, located in Times-Square, New York. He is also the keyboardist for Dan Donnelly's performing and recording band Sonovagun. Roy Harter also hosts a weekly radio show, "Roy Harter's Outlaw Hour".

Biography

Early life

Born into a German / Austrian family in Sunnyside, Queens, New York, the Harter family settled in Bellerose, Queens, New York. Roy began taking piano lessons at the age of 9, and eventually began studying music theory under original Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore.

Harter’s first band was the art-rock band "Matisse" which he formed while attending Chaminade High School in Mineola, Long Island. By the age of 14, Harter was spending his summers interning at Hip Pocket Recording Studios, where he assisted alongside television composer Eddie Jobson and developed an interest in commercial music and post-production.

He went on to graduate from St. John's University, in Jamaica, Queens, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and a Minor Degree in International Studies, due to a year spent studying in Budapest, Hungary. Harter first began playing keyboards professionally with Chrysalis recording artist Fabulon while still in college. Although, the instability of a life as a touring musician reaffirmed his interest in seeking work at a recording studio.

In 1995 Harter accepted an entry-level position at Superdupe Studios in New York, where he worked as a tape duplicator. It was around this time when Roy moved to Woodside, Queens, New York, and began meeting and performing with many Irish musicians (including Dan Donnelly) in the local pubs. After two years he accepted another position at Clack / Hothead Studios where he eventually rose to full-fledged audio engineer and sound designer. Harter began offering his services as a composer, and soon found himself writing music for his clients’ television spots and films.

Editional Effects

In 2004 Harter partnered with Mike Gutowitz and became co-owner of the television post-production facility Editional Effects, (EENYC) located in Times Square, New York City. He has composed or mixed television commercials, promos, and shows for the following major television networks: Noggin, VH-1, Lifetime, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., MTV, M2, TV Land, Nick at Nite, Fox News, Sci Fi Channel, Comedy Central, BBC, USA Networks, Court TV, Logo, Spike TV, , Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, CBS, ABC, Food Network, Oxygen, ESPN, Bravo.

Skinnyman

In 2008 Roy set up his current television and film post-production facility Skinnyman, located in Times Square, New York City.

Notable Events

Using various musicians, including members of Paul Simon's band and Stiff Little Fingers, Roy Harter composed all the promotional music for the children's television network Noggin. The "Alley Pond Park Ensemble" he created for the project was given strict rules that only allowed the musicians to perform using common household items, such as pots and pans.

In the spring of 2002, Erik Friedlander created Broken Shadows, Radio Nights at Tonic. Roy was hired to provide onstage sound effects for a series of old-fashioned live radio broadcasts.

In July 2003, Roy Harter's first solo album "Lover of Beauty and Coffee Breath" was released. He played all the instruments on the album.

On October 21, 2005 Harter gave a televised alpine bell performance in Times Square, New York City. The event was sponsored by Verizon and aired on Nickelodeon. The performance was also simulcast on the Viacom Jumbo-Tron Screen in Times Square, New York.

Harter performed on the main stage at the 2006 Beautiful Days Festival in Devon, UK, as part of Dan Donnelly's live band, Sonovagun. In 2008 Roy Harter performed with Dan Donnelly and Sonovagun on the Leftfield Stage at Glastonbury Festival.

In January 2007, Roy began a weekly radio show entitled "Roy Harter's Outlaw Hour", airing every Sunday night on UK based, Tinternet Radio. The show is primarily a music program showcasing outlaw country and rebellious musical acts, both classic and modern.

Personal life

Roy Harter currently lives in Manhasset, Long Island. His younger brother Kenneth Harter is a music producer and holistic healer living in California.

Filmography

* 2003: Tide – "Composer"
* 2005: The Mad One – "Actor"
* 2007: Area X - "Composer"
* 2007: Astoria Park – "Sound Design"
* 2007: The Slackers - "Sound Design"

Discography

As Roy Harter

* 2003: Lover of Beauty and Coffee Breath

As Audio Engineer or Producer
* 2001: Liz Skillman - "In the Middle"
* 2002: Liz Skillman - "Wayphoria"
* 2000: Abbey of Regina Laudis - "Women in Chant"
* 2000: Bed Devils - "Le Caprice"
* 1999: Dequincy’s Dream - "Solfege"
* 1998: Dequincy’s Dream - "Jeepers Mister, Thanks for the Sweet Deal"

With Dan Donnelly & Sonovagun
* 2006: Bootleg
* 2006: The Beach E.P.
* 2007: Yearning a Living
* 2008: Live in NYC

Awards

2002 Promax Award Silver
* "Music Package / Sound Design Post Score or Instrumental Theme"
* Comedy Central, "Shocktoberfest in South Park" - Composer2003 Promax Award Silver
* "Use of Music"
* Nickelodeon, Sponge Bob Square Pants "Are You Square Enough?" - Composer and Audio Mixer2003 BDA Award Bronze
* "Non-News Out of House Open"
* Nickelodeon, "Slam! Opening Theme" - Sound Designer and Audio Mixer2003 BDA Award Bronze
* "Non-News Out of House Interstitial"
* Nicktoons Holiday Party - Composer and Audio Mixer2003 BDA Award Silver
* "Non-News / In-House Image Promo Over :30 to :90"
* Noggin, "Spill It Campaign" - Composer2003 Promax Award Gold
* "Holiday Image Campaign"
* Nickelodeon, "Nicktoons Holiday Image Campaign" - Composer and Audio Mixer2006 BDA Award Silver
* "Interactive Media, Greeting, E-card or E-vite"
* Harrison Industries, "5C Cocktail Party" - Composer and Audio Mixer2006 BDA Award Gold
* "Interactive Media, DVD Design"
* Editional Effects Reel - Sound Designer2007 Promax Award Gold
* "Marketing Presentation, Internal"
* Anatomy Media, Reuters "Time of Our Lives" - Sound Designer and Audio Mixer2007 Promax Award Gold
* "Marketing Presentation, External"
* Anatomy Media, USA Networks Upfront "Character's Welcome" - Sound Designer and Audio Mixer

References

[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HNN/is_11_18/ai_111304189] [http://www.prosoundnews.com/articles/archives/2003/october/1023.2.shtml] [http://mixonline.com/mixline/editional-vh1-rock/] [http://postproduction.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=38072] [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HNN/is_4_19/ai_n6047703] [http://www.uemedia.net/CPC/designinmotion/articles/printer_10274.shtml] [http://www.uemedia.net/CPC/editorsnet/printer_6557.shtml] [http://www.dmnforums.com/cgi-bin/viewarticle.cgi?id=25653] [http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_sometimes_job_childs/] [http://www.kumadigital.com/hothead/roy_harter.html] [http://www.frostwave.com/people/royharter.html] [http://tinternet.zod.uk.com/news/newsDetail.asp?secID=1&newsID=81] [http://www.answers.com/topic/in-the-middle-rock-album-1] [http://www.synthtech.com/users.html] [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HNN/is_10_20/ai_n15875621] [http://www.erikfriedlander.com/bshadows/bshadex.htm] [http://www.uemedia.net/CPC/postindustry/article_13803.shtml] [http://www.answers.com/topic/bootleg-album-by-sonovagun] [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218665/combined] [http://www.uemedia.net/CPC/designinmotion/articles/article_10274.shtml] [http://www.anxtoonami.com/shows/sves.php] [http://www.eqmag.com/story.asp?storyCode=14237] [http://www.musicdish.com/mag/index.php3?id=3700] [http://www.kidscreen.com/articles/magazine/20021001/spotrunnersup.html?print=yes] [http://montypythondirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,1114074,00.html] [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009R5SW/]

External links

* [http://www.skinnyman.com Skinnyman website]
* [http://www.sonovagun.com Sonovagun website]
* [http://www.alpinebells.com Alpine Bells website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/royharter Roy Harter MySpace website]