Welcome to the Front of the House Fridays (FOTHF) podcast series on the ProSoundWeb Network, presented every Friday by Yamaha Pro Audio and hosted by veteran live and studio engineer Russ Long, who records his conversations with noted audio professionals literally in front of their homes (whenever possible) in following current social distancing guidelines.
In Episode 12, Russ is joined by FOH engineer Chris Taylor, an industry veteran who has mixed a variety of tours including Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Janet Jackson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Joe Cocker, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, and Jewel.
Chris started in the audio Industry in the mid-1970s when he built a sound system and started renting it to local and touring acts out of Memphis, Tennessee. During this time, he provided sound systems and mixed FOH for a number of notable country acts including Charlie Rich, Kenny Rogers, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, DeGarmo and Key Band, and Amy Grant.
In addition to touring, Chris has also worked on many live video productions. He mixed several David Foster Hit Man Shows and also provided the live music mix for the Grammys, Latin Grammys, CMA awards, and the Garth Brooks Central Park Show.
In 2002 Chris went to work for Yamaha Corporation of America after years of traveling on the road. He worked in the R&D area for Yamaha Japan and helped in the development of the new RIVAGE console line. He’s now working as a part time consultant for Yamaha and occasionally mixes a few one-off shows such as the last CDB Volunteer and the Loretta Lynn Birthday Celebration.
Host Russ Long is a top touring and multi-platinum recording and mix engineer who has worked in professional audio for more than 30 years. Following a decade as Steven Curtis Chapman’s FOH engineer, he has spent over 12 years mixing FOH for Amy Grant, and has also mixed numerous high-profile events such as the KLOVE Music awards, the Challenge America Musical Gala at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and Barbara Bush’s 90th birthday concert featuring Reba McEntire, Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant. In addition, he has been part of the audio team for numerous broadcast events such as the Grammy Awards, the CMA Awards, ABC’s “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” TV Special, and more. Russ is currently part of Yamaha’s console R&D team.
NOTE: Two teams from the ProSoundWeb Network will join forces on Tuesday, September 1 to host “Instrument to Audience: Every Step Is Important!” LIVE. Front of the House Fridays host Russ Long and Signal To Noise co-host Chris Leonard will team team up with Paul Andrews, a Global Sales Support/Business Development Manager for DPA Microphones and Tim Holder, a live FOH mixer, studio owner and 1970’s vintage audio enthusiast (currently mixing Carrie Underwood). Check out our Facebook page and YouTube Channel to get in on the action.
