Interview with Frank Laico, January 13, 1999

Interview Summary

In this interview, Susan Schmidt Horning speaks with audio engineer Frank Laico. The interview begins with a recounting of Laico's background in radio before he was drafted into the Signal Corps during World War II. Laico then discusses his difficulty in finding a job in recording after the war and talks about the unions involved in the recording business.

Laico then recounts his time at Columbia Records, working with such musicians as Bill Evans and Erroll Garner. He then discusses his training as a musician and talks about how he conceptualizes sound. He also talks about leaving Columbia Records for the independent record label Arabesque.

Laico moves on to discuss the advent of tape recording and multi-tracking and the transition from monaural recording to stereophonic recording. Finally, Laico discusses his thoughts on rock music, and the hearing loss that was the result of years in the music industry.

Interview Keyword

Audio devices Laico, Frank Recording studios Columbia Records, Inc. Recorders, tape Mono Stereo Musicians Rock 'n' roll Rock music

Interview LC Subject

Sound--Recording and reproducing Sound--Recording and reproducing--History Sound recording industry Sound recording industry--History Sound recordings Columbia Records, Inc. Record labels

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.