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Jay Thomas

On June 2nd, 2016 we lost a dear friend and mentor, our little buddy Jay Thomas. You will be greatly missed dude...

 

Jay's interest in music and audio started in the 1950's when his dad was the sound engineer for the Boston Arts Festival, an avid tape recordist and lover of classical music. Jay attended the Longy School of Music in Cambridge MA for 6 years studying theory and clarinet.
 

While a bassist for the never popular Little Known Diseases in 1978 Jay was hired by Lehigh Valley favorites Steppin' Out to do sound. In 1980 he started All American Audio and was house sound for the Beacon Theatre in New York City. Credits at the Beacon Theatre include Jimmy Cliff, Bette Midler, Doc Watson, Kid Creole. From there Jay moved on to The Station in Wilkes Barre, PA. Credits at The Station include Joan Jett, Todd Rundgren, Nils Lofgren, David Crosby and 50 other national acts.
 

In 1983 Jay was hired by MTV basement tape winners The Sharks out of Lancaster, PA (2 yrs.), Magnum based in Allentown, PA (14 yrs.) and in 2001 Law Sound and Lighting, Inc based in Bushkill, PA. The latter led to 12 years, and counting, with The Jim Roberti Trio/Maybabies.
 

Jay's sound Philosophy: "An audio console is a tool and a musical instrument. Kick, snare and bass are the core of rock. Everything else is filler. A little bit of vagueness goes a long way. I want the audience to feel like they're halfway up the hill at Woodstock and glad they took the blue pill instead of the brown one."

 

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