Sound engineer Bob Heil, best known for inventing the Talk-Box effects device, died on February 28th at the age of 83.
As the Belleville News-Democrat reports, Heil died after battling cancer in Belleville, Illinois. He left a legacy that includes the advancement of live concert sound systems, pipe organ tuning and maintenance, amateur radio, and the operation of a music store.
Innovation for the music industry
The use of the talk box first received greater attention on Peter Frampton’s 1976 album “Frampton Comes Alive”. After the sad news, the rock musician also said: “I am so sorry to hear about the loss of my long-time friend Bob Heil. A special musician and inventor…”
Frampton described the effects machine as “a very important gift” he received for Christmas in 1974, adding: “I can never thank Bob enough. Rest in peace my friend.”
Joe Walsh – for whom the device was developed in 1973 – recalled: “Bob was a tireless problem solver, a mentor to me and a guide on my guitar journey, he was our Midwest wizard. He was also my friend for more than 50 years”.
Here is a video about the talk box
Talk-Box made it easier for bands to tour
Sound engineer Bob Heil was an important advisor to many musicians. Legend has it that he came to the Grateful Dead’s aid in 1970 when they needed a sound system for a gig in St. Louis. The band was so impressed by Heil’s powerful system that they invited him to tour with them.
The following year he performed similar services for The Who, Joe Walsh and Jeff Beck and soon found himself unable to escape orders.
Heil himself talked about his career in a 2008 interview with “Tape Op”: “I started in 1955 as a pipe organist at the Fox Theater in St. Louis. I was lucky enough to learn how to intonate and tune the pipe organ as a teenager. That’s where I also learned to listen – listening is a real art.”
He also reported that amateur radio was his “first love” and that a microphone he developed for that hobby was so good that his friend and colleague Joe Walsh used it on stage. This created a new line of business.