I met Don in 1975 when I became Hot Tuna's lighting designer. I remain Don's friend forever.
He truly became an icon in the production world, but unlike many, never forgot his friends. He always had time to sit and talk, was very free with advice and a good word.
I always looked forward to the Don coming to town with the Dead, we would talk and hang for hours.
I'll never forget, one day sitting in his backroom at his house, he had something new to show me. Hey Larry, check this out, it's a new computer called an Apple. He of course had it open and was busy improving it.
Don was truly one of my mentors, both professionally and personally. I'll miss him.

Written at 2:28pm on Mar 01, 2006 by Larry Weinles

Perhaps no one in our little world epitomized "sound" more than Don. His passion for sound and his unerring focus on using every possible tool to achive a step above anything else is what made him such a force, and such a great loss to this industry. For those who never met him or spoke to him - you missed one of the true elemental powers in SR, for those who had the pleasure cherish the moment. Don, wherever you are now I know it sound terrific!

Written at 6:44pm on Feb 16, 2006 by Frederick Ampel

I had the great fortune to spend several years working for UltraSound in San Rafael. I owe so much to Don P. for my knowledge of audio engineering. I will always treasure the time I spent with all of the folks at UltraSound. The organization was/is of the highest integrity, and I always felt a strong sense of family with the incredibly talented friends and co-workers. I think that this was a direct reflection of Don's leadership and vision. I always had the utmost respect for Don, without question, he was the best boss I have ever had the pleasure of working for.

My sincere condolences to Don's close friends and family.

jamesw@ap.com

Written at 10:22am on Feb 08, 2006 by James Williams, Audio Precision, Inc.

An Attempt at Closure, ... of a sort.
Seems like the right time to offer it.

I received a message from an old mutual friend from the East Coast today, ... still struggling with the void left in Don's wake, who wanted to be at the Fillmore on JAN 31st to celebrate and remember, but could not.

And in offering solace & camaraderie; I offered the following response, which pretty much sums it up for me.

(offered unabridged... errr.. pretty much... only the names have been obscured to protect the guilty)

>>>>
Dear *****,
how good it is to hear from you... alas, that the circumstances were better, but what can one do?

It truly was like a Shot to the old Solar Plexus.... it just took the collective breath out of everyone who knew Don ... & like you, most of us still haven't returned to our normal selves yet. Like these things always go, it just ebbs slowly over time ...

Yet we'll always have that old treasure chest of memories and unique experiences to dig into when needed (our own "Box of Rain", as it were).

The Memorial was perfect, expecting about 300 or so and it had to be closer to 600... Ye Olde FILLMORE wrapped itself around the Gathering like an old amoebic QUILT of some sort, and the whole affair couldn't have been a better way to send Donny off on his Cosmic Tour. Good friends, good music, good food, good drink. Don would have had a hell of a time, and sensed that he WAS.

Heck... I even got to dust off them old rusty chops and mixed a little set for Healy who played with an acoustic trio he put together for the occasion and offered a bunch of poignant songs; ... and just doing a "mix" at Don's send-off was the perfect way for me to come full-circle. (glad it was only 6 channels and a few FX returns!)

Howard and the exended Family (Fran was a rock, btw .. god bless her) and the Meyers and everyone else who contributed to the evening and made it so memorable ... sheesh.. what an night ... Don would have been humbled by it all... but then ... he was such a self-effacing guy ... to a fault.. RIGHT!... ahem...

Hard to accept the fact... just revel in the memories!

CUE: show over: ... start play-out music...

..."such a long, long time to be gone, and a short time to be there" ...

Take care of Yourself ***** and be well, 'kay?
>>>>

Mark
mark.haynes@comcast.net
mhaynes@leosaudio.com

Written at 11:58pm on Feb 06, 2006 by Mark Haynes

I came to barely know Don through my love for pure sound and the Grateful Dead, and as a friendly howdy-there connection with his wonderful wife Fran while I worked in San Anselmo. Later I got into promoting small shows, benefits mostly, or helping young bands break into the bar scene-nothing hard core. A few of those shows were held at the Fairfax Pavillion-a difficult place for sound. Somehow the universe gave me the HUGE blessing of having Ultrasound do the sound-almost gratis. Don and Howard were so infectiously willing to help a local underdog-all the guys I met were so full of respect and warmth and sheer humble talent-Don's genuine nature and joy at ultimate sound affected so many of us-may it continue!

Written at 8:21pm on Feb 03, 2006 by sshannon

A friend told me of Don's passing and I was deeply saddened. I got interested in audio by taping and watching Don as systems engineer for the Grateful Dead for some 15 years. I would say to myself as a teenager,
"How can you achieve a position like Don's? Since then, my love for live sound using Meyer Sound systems directly came from watching this man year after year working the system and making it the best experience a concert goer could have. I had some talks with him back then, but finally got to really pick his brain at a Meyer training course in Brooklyn, NY last Spring. He explained things in a way that made real, practical sense. If it wasn't for Don, I really doubt I would be in the occupation I'm in using the systems that always made me happy as a kid. Thank you Don.

Written at 6:34pm on Feb 03, 2006 by Dave Brotman DBS Audio Systems, Inc.

I think that a fitting tribute, and something that Don Pearson would be proud of, was the knowledge and professionalism exhibited by Gavin and Steve while teaching the Meyer seminar at the Shrine Auditorium January 23rd and 24th.

Written at 2:11am on Feb 02, 2006 by Martin Oliver

Met Don when I was sixteen, my first and last deadshow,
Leaning over FOH, underneath the belly of the hovering mothership in the Oak. Coliseum, with a sea of knobs, meters, and cables splayed before him, beaming the patient, warm, easy confidence of a tangible deity or some moustached god.

I remember the honor of working with and around him at the RNC, a year or two later. The head-blowing juxtaposition of secret service, fatcat suits, party-officials, politicos and lobbyists, and these ridiculously intelligent guys in purple UltraSound tie dye, with their gloriously finished road cases with shrapnel marks fresh from the Atlanta Olympics. I remember eating Republican Steak behind the stage with Don, and walking the site with Fran, taking pictures as the sunset reflected in San Diego’s Marina.

We inhabited UltraSound, in San Rafael, first filling voids in the speaker warehouses during summer tours, with computers and high school interns, and then moving from bay-to-bay over the years, and finally taking over the big bay when they moved to Hercules. I remember the flush of excitement, of privilege, seeing his Reatta pull into our parking lot, knowing that I was about to learn something, getting a fresh tan from his brilliance. Of course, Don’s presence, the esoteric sound-history library of artifacts lining every wall and corner, permeated the space. It was still reverberating, when, crying, I dismantled his old office, nearly untouched, as we left forever. I remember Don and Howard, on that last night, standing together in the husk of greatness, the end of an era I can only imagine.

Intermingled. A couple years ago, while Jimmi and I were working, plotting, and scheming close with Don, Don’s daughter, Toby, was working directly with my dad, during his toughest time at College of Marin. He appreciated her help and presence so much, and my family was just crushed by the news of Don's passing. My parents and sister knew what an unworldly hero he was, and how much I respected and loved him. (I’d talk about him like a shameless groupie) I’m sure they have only an inkling of how much he meant to everyone else he touched deeply. They all send love, sympathy, and appreciation, to him, to Fran, to Toby and Missy, the little‘uns, and everyone who loved Don.

Don had the kind of intelligence that magnetized and drew other brilliance to it to be eagerly catalyzed. Years after he wasn’t a daily presence at UltraSound (San Rafael) the weirdest, coolest people would just walk in, looking for Don, saying stuff like ‘Me?, I design underwater autonomous robots. Hey, is Donny still around here?’ What a treat.

I feel amazingly fortunate, blessed, and honored to have known him for so long, and will feel and transmit his energy and influence for the rest of my life.

And he made stellar ‘spresso, and was everything’s aficionado.

Don was quality incarnate.

Written at 11:59am on Feb 01, 2006 by Wes Middleton

Your droopy eyes, that way you walked, your warm smile, your large but peaceful presence, those are some of the things that seem to be missing. I'm trying to locate you, but you are not to be found. I think I know where you went, and Wavy Gravy spoke profoundly last night (possibly a paraphrase, can't remember exactly):

He who we love is gone,
But we know where he is,
He is all around us.

A part of Don's greater circle of influence gathered last night, impressive that several hundred people could mourn this man, and that represents only a fraction of the people whose lives he touched.

Thank you, Don.

Written at 11:27am on Feb 01, 2006 by Nat Koren, San Francisco

Last night's tribute to Don was great, the cheers and the tears. Thanks to Meyer, Pro Media, the muscians and poets for their generosity. There was only one thing missing.

I'm not sure that most of his fans or crew, know that Don did have an "All Girl Crew", and I, not a Virgo, got to be part of that team. It was quite a privilege.

Thanks Don.

Written at 7:06am on Feb 01, 2006 by Julie Bowers

I had the great pleasure and honor to get advice and suggestions from Don over the past few years that I have redesigned and rebuilt the studios at the Plant. Don was so generous with his time and help, and did me the great favor of introducing me to Sam Berkow in connection with a proposed theater design for a live venue. I have read all of the letters herein and its all been said. Fran.....you had a great man and a great husband and I loved him very much; even though we never really got to spend alot of time together. I will always remember you Don, and I will always miss your great advice and kindness and great spirit.

Written at 2:47pm on Jan 31, 2006 by Arne Frager; The Plant Studios

Thank you for touching our lives with your friendship and wisdom Don. We miss you.
It should be comforting to know that when we get to the other side of the door, it’s going to sound incredible. Save me a seat.

Written at 1:28am on Jan 31, 2006 by Bob Havlice

I met Don back in 1978 in Chicago at an Uptown Theater Dead show. From the moment we met and talked technology, I knew I'd met a genius, a pioneer, but most important, a perpetual teacher.

Don, I will never forget you and although I'm not a religious man, the one thing I know for sure about heaven is that with you there, it sounds perfect.

Rest in peace and thanks for everything,

Marc

Written at 3:58pm on Jan 30, 2006 by Marc Sokol

There are no words that can describe the grief and sadness that I feel from the loss of my dearest friend, Donny. He was a true Renaissance man that embodied a spirit and zest for life and learning that remains unequalled. To me, Don Pearson was part Benjamin Franklin, part Leonardo DaVinci and part Albert Einstein. A true genius, visonary and scientist applying his theories and practices into a unique combination of art and science. His thirst for knowledge and his unbridled passion for openly sharing it shall always stand as a benchmark for a standard to which we all should aspire. He was a mentor to many, and an icon to all. His contributions to the Pro Sound Industry will be his professional legacy that will live forever.

I was so fortunate to have celebrated my 50th birthday with the good "doctor" three years ago in his home turf in San Anselmo. I will always remember that weekend and cherish the time spent. We went to "Mama's" Restaurant in downtown San Anselmo. It turned out that the owner was the Dead's Canadian caterer. Don helped them find this restaurant when they wanted to relocate to The Bay Area. We ate like royalty, the wine flowed endlessly, and they would not charge us. It felt like the '60's all over again!
Two summers ago, a few of us a took cruise on my sailboat, after teaching one of the most successful and best attended "Dr. Don's Sound System Optimization and Measurement" courses in a lovely theater in Patchogue, Long Island. We dubbed it "The Lobster Pot Cruise" (draw your own conclusions). Larry Zinn from the Letterman Show, Brad Berlin of Berlin Acoustics, Donny and I traversed the Long Island Sound for 4 days talking shop, and eating like we had not seen food in weeks. It was a great, special and wonderful time, meeting new friends in ports, swapping stories, and did I mention....eating?. All the while, Donny never stopped sharing his knowledge and wisdom.

In the last few years, Don took particular interest in my career, challenging my decisions and offering his opinions and guidance. He took particular pleasure in putting people together, helping to nurture friendships and develop business relationships. My life is different today, because of his concern and advice. I am glad I listened to him.

Our lives will go on, our careers will continue, our industry will forge ahead, but it will never be the same. A part of me died on January 9th 2006 with Don Pearson, but a part of him will always live with me.

Rest in peace, my dear friend. I love you and I miss you.

Tom Bensen

Written at 6:56am on Jan 29, 2006 by Tom Bensen

I first met Dr. Don in Cinncinati in April of 1989. He and Dan Healey were very gracious and I got to watch set 2 from the Helm of the Good Ship Grateful Dead. I won't forget their warmth and graciousness in giving me space on the deck.
The first time he and I talked professionally was in late September 1998, at AES in San Francisco. I was new at Audix and had a couple of products I wanted to show him. My thought was, if I could interest the guys at Ultra Sound in our microphones, I could satisfy anybody! Imagine my stunned look when he, without dismissing me or my mics, told me "8 things I could do to make it better." ( I really don't remember if it was 8 or not; for some reason that number sticks in my head when I think of Don). For the next 7 years, he constantly would ask me about new products or share ideas on things he thought should be developed. His dedication to excellent audio is still inspiring to me.
Last summer, I had the opportunity to study with Don and Sam Berkow for 2 days in Denver. i managed to knock over a can of sweetened ice tea into my laptop and watched with dismay as I was rewarded with the dreaded blue screen of death. I was distraught. I left the classroom and went ot the breakroom to futiley take apart my computer (which, of course, had all the rest of my life on it as well). I was panicked and beating my self up when suddenly there was a hand on my shoulder. It was Don. He said, "so, Phil, had enough tsuris (Yiddish for 'aggravating trouble')?"
I muttered something to the effect of yes and he said, "Look, you won't get it back today. Tonight, go out get a soft toothbrush, some distilled water, take all the moving parts, battery and storage out, rinse and get rid of the residue, dry it really well and it'll boot up tomorrow. In the meantime we got you a laptop. Is this really how you want to spend your day when you could be studying with me and Sammy?" Humbled, embarrassed (and grateful), I went back up and finished the class. Later, at lunch, we sat and talked about his stories and discussed the possibility of turning them into a book. I called a journalist friend of mine (who, coincidentally is a taper and deadhead) and he was all excited about the prospect. I was planning to talk with Don about this on 1/30/06, when I would be taking a class from him in Portland on Sound System Optimization.
Now, like all of you, I feel cheated. One of the great teachers is gone. Nonetheless, I am delighted beyond my words that I got to spend the time I did and got to get the lessons I got from Don. Because of he and Dan, I'm a better "balance engineer' (thanks to Jamie Anderson for that one) than I ever would have been on my own.
By the way, my 'puter turned on teh next morning, just like he said it would. It now sports a piece of hot pink gaff to the left of the touch pad that says, "NO DRINKS. THIS MEANS YOU!!!" Thanks Don!

Phil Garfinkel
Audix Microphones
Wilsonville, OR

Written at 6:58pm on Jan 28, 2006 by Phil Garfinkel

donson most honorable one,man do i love you!!!!!! truely one of my gurus. i guess jerry, dick, and chub needed some help with the sound up there in heaven, we all will miss you soo much, whats gonna happen to the sound down here? your truely one of cosmic teachers of this planet, not only in sound ,but human behavier as well, a kinder,gentler,soul,is hard to find.you'll be missed so much.have a magic journey ole friend. peace & love Oley

Written at 12:17pm on Jan 28, 2006 by oley henrickson

Don was a close and dear personal friend. The morning of his passing, and my absolute shock of learning of it… will resonate in my mind and heart forever…. it is a visceral and deep anguish … and one that will only ebb slowly over time….

(Don & Fran’s house in San Anselmo was my wife, Laurie and I’s first destination when migrating to California in 1980 < mixing for the Starship and Ultrasound at that time) … and they helped us get our feet on the ground … with Howard living upstairs in the Belfry … their kindnesses will never be forgotten.

Over time, and in looking back, it only underscores what a caring and incredibly fortuitous situation we had been blessed with, … and as time went on, the riches, intellect, knowledge, education, friendship, the gamut of it all; … the absolute uniqueness of the gift we had been given by this set of circumstances, … and the bonds of friendship that were tied ‘back in the day’ … resounds more loudly than ever.

What a wonderfully imperfect Perfect guy Don was… not a mean bone in his body… always helping someone with something, always …. ..giving to a fault, … a better friend and colleague he could not have been . Simply put, … truly one of a kind … , and Don’s memory will continue as an inspiration to me, and I’m sure, … All who have their own similar stories to relate. I miss him so much.

Howard dropped in today (at the office, life goes on… and there are matters afoot); and said something I can heartily buy into…. slipping into the conversational mode here…

MH:
“Howie, as deeply as this has affected me, I can’t imagine what you’re going through…”

DK:
“Yeah, … it’s tough, … I’ve been getting up in the morning and going to the phone to give Don a call and see what’s up… then I catch myself, … Oh Yeah, I forgot…. he’s on the road, on tour somewhere… I’ll catch him when he gets back.”

…and we had a good laugh, and another cry….

That’s TOO good. I intend to steal it. My coping mechanism. That’s how I intend to deal with it. End of Story. (thanks Howard)

Don’s On-Tour… On the Road… perfectly natural, … and I’ll catch him when he gets back.


Mark & Laurie Haynes
Fairfax, CA
and
Leo’s Professional Audio
Oakland, CA
mhaynes@leosaudio.com

Written at 10:23pm on Jan 27, 2006 by Mark Haynes

Don worked for Hot Tuna & Jefferson Starship for about
ten years. I was the manager of both bands. I always
I thought Don was one of the most brilliant sound men
I have ever met. Don was with Jefferson Starship in
Germany in 1978 when Grace did not appear the Germans
went nuts & burnt down almost all of our equipment &
then the stage. Don & Howard worked hard, with very
little time, to provide a sound system for our next show
in Hamburg. Those guys & our crew did an amazing job
putting together a system for the show. Grace showed up
drunk. Oh well. I was honored to know Don & he will be
missed

Written at 6:20pm on Jan 27, 2006 by Bill Thompson

Dear Dr. Don,

Having your memorial here on the Meyer Sound website brings strange prophecy to the words you shared with me when you were taking the education position. You said, "My career started with Meyer Sound. It seems fitting that 25 years later, it would conclude with them."

At the risk of reiteration, thank you for giving me what you have clearly given so many—inspiration, information, and aspirations.

For years, I listened from the audience to your achievements and marveled. When we finally met, you immediately offered your friendship and guidance. I had spent years pleased with my own company and personal growth and direction until you showed me the next level. I’m sure you said it many times, “There are a lot of guys, just not a lot of Ultra Guys.” Your words woke me up.

During the years of conversations we had, I listened vigorously, took your advice, got myself into the pinches you said I needed, paid and continue to pay my dues, and regularly asked “What would Dr. Don do?” Thank you for the years of answering that for me.

I remember thanking you as we added grounded receptacles throughout my home, and as I commented about how it seemed like you were giving up vacation time to work, you responded, “What would I rather be doing than helping a friend?”

While you have been available to me consistently since we met, now I must make the decisions on my own, trust my instincts, and hope I learned everything as well as you taught it. I hear your voice constantly.

I guess you already know that in the past two weeks I have worked on projects we discussed just recently. I long to share the results with you. I find myself talking to you all the time, asking if you approve as the hours wear on, the connections are made, and the tuning transpires. I go forward always striving to do what Dr. Don would do. I know you’ll be watching.

Dr. Don, you have improved the lives of all who have listened to you. You have given so generously and taken such pride in watching your protégés grow. I know you realize how much you have influenced numerous members of our industry and inspired us to strive for the steps beyond mere excellence, to earn the “DDA” stamp (Dr. Don Approved)!!! I hope we all make you proud.

You have given our community a true legacy. Your insights and passion for always making everything better that you instilled in so many people throughout our industry assures that you will live on through each of us. You have created a legion of comrades, many of whom don’t even know one another yet. I’m proud to be a part of it, to be able to say I’m one of Dr. Don’s friends.

Now, with each isolated ground we insist upon, each ferrule inserted into a connector, every tuning we do with respect to frequency and phase, and every system designed to achieve the best performance possible, you are right here with us.

Forever Thankful,

Marc

Written at 5:30am on Jan 26, 2006 by Marc Nutter

Although I only met Don in November, he was such a knowledgeable and passionate man seeking understanding from all, for the fundamentals of system set up. Our thoughts are with Don's family and friends.

Written at 2:52am on Jan 26, 2006 by Dan Herbert - Autograph, London, UK

It was a shock to learn of Don Pearson’s passing and a huge blow to our world of creating and recreating music and sound. I feel very fortunate to have met this fun loving genius. He was unpretentious and humble. Don cemented in my mind what a great company Meyer’s Sound is for having such a wonderful character as part of their team. With Best Thoughts to Don’s family, friends/co-workers

Written at 11:52pm on Jan 25, 2006 by Bill Costigan - Poindexters - Bozeman, MT USA

As I write this I still can’t believe that you’re GONE, you were my friend, mentor and educator. I will never forget the time you had taken to educate me. Times such as when I was installing power at SRS (San Rafael Studios), how you explained proper grounding and your solution of salt water poured into the holes for having complete earth contact by the copper grounding rods. How to tap “The Pig” the transformer, for proper voltage at the end of long AC runs. Help with acoustic designs and your never-ending devotion to making it RIGHT! I miss you and Thank You,

Written at 9:10pm on Jan 25, 2006 by Daniel Polselli, SRS-Live Sound International-Telefunken USA.

There are not enough words to express the privilege of knowing Don and working beside him. He loved his work and he loved his family with great passion. Don was always there and willing to help and share his knowledge and experience any time of the day. Thank you for everything Don!

Written at 8:07am on Jan 25, 2006 by Michael Maxson

There is nothing I can say about Don that hasn't already been said by his many Friends and colleagues, except for his relentless passion and quest for perfection. May we all be so lucky to live a life filled with such passion for the endeavors we choose. I will miss our conversations. My condolences to his family. Dave Shadoan.

Written at 8:01pm on Jan 24, 2006 by Dave Shadoan President Sound Image

I would never call Don if i did not have at least have one hour per question for the answer.Davies Hall and i will remerber Don in the highest respect.

Written at 12:53pm on Jan 24, 2006 by Hal Harold Nishon Soogian/S F Symphony

The news of Don Pearson’s passing has opened a floodgate of amazing memories.

A long, long time ago in a place very far from northern California, Falls Church, Virginia, to be exact, I met Don Pearson. The year was 1971. He and Fran owned a store called Trucker’s Stop, an old fashioned head shop, the best and definitely the coolest in the DC area.

Don ran the store and he and Fran and toddler Toby lived upstairs. They had a never ending parade of loyal customers, friends and employees who, like me, are saddened by the news even though we haven’t seen this gentle man in many years.

When they left Virginia, Don and Fran moved to a log cabin in Pecos, New Mexico. A couple friends and I went to visit one summer. When we arrived, Don was waist deep in a project….he was digging a well. Was there nothing he couldn’t do? Fran was pregnant with Missy then but always had time to cook some wondrous meal or take us to see the splendor of the area where they lived.

As usual, when Don went anywhere, he was surrounded by interesting and loyal friends and always made sure the visiting ones met the current ones.

Then they moved to San Anselmo where I also had occasion to visit. Again, what a great time! I’ll never forget the morning Owlsley Stanley came to the door to pick up a piece of equipment. I was the only one awake and was stunned to find this legendary character standing in front of me. Another time during the visit, Fran took us to a Hot Tuna concert where Don and Howard were doing the sound…. Just some of the deposits in my bank of memories that I withdraw and savor and redeposit for future joy.

When the Dead came to the DC area it was such a special event, not just because of the boys in the band, but because we’d get to see Don and Howard keeping the music grand.

Wherever he is now I hope he and Jerry and our buddies Paul Freeman and Keith Edwards are together making wondrous sounds.

Goodbye old friend. I will never forget you.

Jan Driscoll VanDyke

Written at 2:53pm on Jan 21, 2006 by Jan Driscoll VanDyke

I've enjoyed the audio fruits of Don's expertise at many a Dead concert from 1981 on and had the opportunity to be witness his genius at UltraSound on numerous occasions, having worked next door for Primus, and having my friend Drake as an UltraSound employee.

I can say without a doubt Don was one of my top audio guru's, and was always forthcoming with answers to my questions, be it microphone application/placement, live versus studio recording techniques, or whatever the topic du'jour was.

I was able to take that knowledge on the road as house/recording engineer for "Zero" both on the road and in the Zero Ranch studio during which time I recorded and mixed Live recordings, studio demo's and soundtracks.

Some of my fondest memories of Don are watching him work in the GAMH downstairs "Studio" recording Zero's 3 night run at the Great American Music Hall in 1993, and watching him "geek" with gear while the Gyuto Monks rehearsed down at the UltraSound "Shop".

Don, Thanks for the memories & shine on wherever you land next.

_.Dave Hunter
www.gammalyte.com

Written at 1:44pm on Jan 21, 2006 by Dave Hunter

I had the pleasure of working with Don and family throughout the 80's and 90's with Hot Tuna. Coming from a studio background to the world of venues was quite the challenge and his support, humor and willingness to mentor a rookie was greatly appreciated. I ran into Don and Fran at AES in October and he was as happy and relaxed as I ever remember. His passing is a real loss to the art of sound and we'll all miss him.

Thanks for everything you've given us Don.

Written at 9:48pm on Jan 20, 2006 by Rick Sanchez

I was shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Don.
I just recently attended a MAPP seminar he taught with John Monitto and crew over at Meyer Sound.

During the breaks Don would sit with us as we tried to absorb all the information and provide stories and real world examples from his vast and often funny travels. He loved to hear your stories and even as we just traded laugh I found I was learning. He was a true teacher. Dr. Don made you want to learn and find the enjoyment he had in life.

One of the greatest compliments I had was his remberance of a show I had mixed over 15 years ago, probably the first time we met. As we traded stories that day at Meyer he pointed out in that loving patient teacher style how the mix was flawless, "...but the time smear hurt the show just a little bit."

Dr. Don thanks to you I will strive to keep my systems grounded and my time a little tighter.

I never had the chance to meet his family and my thoughts are with them.

The sound will always be better because Dr. Don showed us all the way and only asked we share the knowledge gained with those whose paths we crossed on our journey.

Written at 2:12am on Jan 20, 2006 by Marc Kennedy

I worked for Don and Howard at UltraSound supporting the Dead. I found Don to be one of the most intelligent people I have ever met in my life and he was always willing to share that knowledge. Don was ready to carry on an in depth conversation about any Audio or Computer subject, and correct any misunderstanding you might be carrying around with you. He had a passion for knowledge and truth that is rarely found and the science to prove his assertions. What I learned from Don changed my life and I will miss him tremendously. I now manage Enterprise Tape Quality at Dell Computers, a job I would not have without Dr. Don's teachings. I learned more from Don in a the lab than I learned in College.......we will miss you my friend.

Written at 1:53pm on Jan 19, 2006 by Drake Carson, Austin Texas

Don was known to one and all as man unerringly dedicated to a single cause: good sound. He never stopped searching; left no stone unturned and never lost his enthusiasm for learning, and for freely sharing his vast experiences with others.

I know of no one who was more of a mentor for our live sound community than Dr. Don. Everyone knew that a conversation with him would leave them understanding or thinking about something they had not known before. Don made every effort to share his experiences, with veterans and newcomers alike, unafraid to put his strategies out in the light of day for scrutiny and animated discussion. Conversation with Don was dialogue, a real sharing of ideas, rather than a lecture or monologue. His manner was gentle and welcoming, and always focused on moving things forward.

One of the reasons that Don was such a mentor is that we could relate to him a “one of us”. He was not a walking computer, eccentric or someone seemingly born with inherent vision. He was an “everyman” that had accrued his genius and the respect he earned, one day at a time, out there on the same roads that we are still traveling. His approaches and solutions were borne of ceaseless trials and errors, experiments performed “without a net” in the real-time stressful environment of live concert sound. We all have benefited from the risks he took pushing the envelope to blaze paths that have lead us forward toward better sound.

I was fortunate in my career to have had many experiences with Don over a 26 year period. Don was certainly a mentor to me personally and professionally. He was already established as an innovator in the field when I was in my professional infancy. His ongoing presence in the industry has always been an inspiration for me to continue searching forward on my own path. Don was there when John Meyer and I conducted the groundbreaking SIM measurements in 1984 in Sacramento and Berkeley. We all knew at that moment that we had opened a door that would change us forever. Don made this possible because his ceaseless drive for improvement outweighed the fear of possible failure that held so many others back from taking risks. This is not to say that Don was reckless, or a follower of fads and fashion trends. He was scientific and methodical. He maintained an open and investigative mind. Once convinced that an approach was worth trying, he proceeded forward even if it meant having to convince the mixer, the band or the manager. Whatever it took.

I was not prepared for Don to leave us. He can not be replaced, and will be sorely missed. Somehow I expected he would always be there to share stories and push the envelope to the next level. I take comfort in knowing that there many others in the community who, like me, were affected by Don in a positive way and will carry on the research that he inspired.

Written at 8:54am on Jan 19, 2006 by 6o6 McCarthy

Just thought I would pass on my sincere regrets. I didn't know Don well, but the few times I had the pleasure of listening to him speak it was incredibly informative and entertaining. I always felt like I needed a warm up to get my mind alert enough to digest the depth of information he would give out. He was obviously a really nice guy too with a passion for teaching, and it is a real shame for everybody else that he had just begun to share his knowledge on such a wider scale through Meyer.

I also sympathize with his wife and children, as I know he had talked about retiring in a couple of years, and knowing the kind of guy he was I'm sure they hadn't seen as much of him over the years as they deserved to.

Written at 5:37pm on Jan 18, 2006 by Ollie Morrish

I wanted to say that Don was my best resource for Sound advise. I was fortunate to have known him. I truly feel our
world has lost a kind and generous man. I liked to think of Don as soulfull Soundman. I know he taught us plenty and I know we would all agree that he will be missed. I will always use his style and soulfulness as an inspiration.
I think he would have liked that from all of us. I know he earned our respect .

Written at 4:17pm on Jan 18, 2006 by Bob Sereno/Music Circus

Don's passing really knocked me for a loop. When I saw the e-mail from Helen Meyer, I gasped out loud.

I met Don somewhere in the 80s while he was on tour with the Dead and we crossed paths now and then over the course of the years until he and I finally both ended up at Meyer Sound. (Funny how that happens!) When he started at Meyer, his desk was right next to mine, so we got into lots of conversations, which, given both our talkativeness, was no surprise.

Others have noted how generous he was with his knowledge, as well as how passionate he was and how strong his opinions were. Most of the time, we agreed on things. Sometimes, primarily on aesthetic or subjective matters, we might disagree, which led to spirited discussions that were never arguments (not that either of us were incapable of arguing).

I was lucky enough to be taking a bunch of people, including Don, out to dinner at the NSCA show one night when he received a phone call in the middle of dinner telling him he had a new grandchild. I ordered champagne and numerous toasts to Don and his family ensued. That was a special moment.

Don cared about EVERYTHING, and he most certainly brought that to his work at Meyer Sound, where he was unafraid to present ideas that might go against the prevailing winds. If he thought there was a better way to do things, he was going to say it. He saw it as part of his role to "stir the soup," and he did it well.

Late in the day the Friday before he died, Don came over, sat down at his old desk next to mine and we talked. He was acting breezy about his upcoming procedure, but I could see he was nervous about it. Nevertheless, his conversation was, characteristically, on his work. "I think I'm going to keep a low profile next week," he said. I asked him why, and he replied, "Because I think I stirred up a LOT of trouble this week!" I wished him luck as he walked out and expected to see him on Monday.

Ah, Don, by now you're probably making the case that there are much better ways of doing admittance than those old-fashioned pearly gates. All I know is that I'll see your face in every blue haze I find myself immersed in forevermore.

Written at 2:56pm on Jan 18, 2006 by Larry the O

I was one of the very lucky ones. See, the first hundred times or so that I was in the same room as Don, we never said hello to each other. We were never even formally introduced to each other until many many years later. No, I was just one of those lucky young Deadheads who came along at the right time and just got to feast on the fruits of Don’s labor, his intelligence and his passion for what he did. And even more importantly, on the labor of the entire team and cast assembled around him, which includes many of you who are reading this. I cannot begin to thank Don and all of you enough.

I first saw the Dead back East in 1977 at the ripe age of fifteen. I moved to California in 1979 and had probably seen the Dead twenty times or so before what really was a memorable evening. I remember walking into the Greek Theater for the first run of Fall shows in 1981—I believe that was run—when after getting settled in and looking up, I said, “Where the hell’s the PA?” This was the first time I heard the new MSL-3 rig, maybe it was the MSL-10 rig, I’m not sure, but it was a whole new thing! I had no idea what time smear was then, but I knew it was suddenly missing. I had no idea what a flat frequency response curve was, but suddenly I could hear everything a whole lot better and Garcia’s guitar and Lesh’s bass suddenly were kicking me really hard right in the chest—and that was a very good thing. The sound was somehow coming from the band, not the cabinets. And my ears didn’t hurt. Now I will admit there were other external influences I had to consider, but no, this really was that PA! How cool.

I also had no idea how many hours and days and nights and years of work, experimentation, failure and success had gone into making that happen. All of you who were there and involved with Dr. Don should really take a whole lotta pride in what you did. Even though I was a “Level 4” Deadhead, as Don used to like to call us, I was basically a live music junkie and went to many other shows and nobody came close to matching the quality of sound that Ultra Sound was able to produce. It wasn’t until years later, after beginning to work in the industry, that I had any clue as to why. The enjoyment this work brought to thousands is immeasurable.

I am humbled and proud to be able to say I worked with Don and was able to call him my good friend. As so many have said and echoed, he was one of the nicest men you’ll ever meet, one of the most generous with his care and knowledge and insight, and how he loved to teach. All losses are big, some are bigger than others. This one is huge. We will all miss you, Don, and I offer my prayers and best of all I got to Fran, Toby, Missy and all of Don’s extended family. May God bless and keep you always.

Written at 6:52am on Jan 18, 2006 by Bob Buika

I met Dr. Don Pearson about 2 years ago as I was mixing monitors for Dark Star Orchestra at the Fillmore in S.F. Don was wiring up some AC cables and needed some tools. Ever since we became friends. Don was always gratuitous with his knowledge, even if you wanted it or not. All with the intentions of making things better. I remember once we were doing a 3 day recording of DSO in Bond Colorado. There were train tracks by the venue that trains would go up and down the mountain all day and night. At about 3AM Dr. Don, me and a couple other of us sound guys set up a couple of mic's and made some stereo recordings of these's trains going back and forth. Don knew the exact distance the mic's needed to be apart to make the recording sound like it was really passing you. The next day we used the recordings in the show. Don loved doing crazy things like this. As Don started working for John Meyer he made sure to give me a tour of Meyer sound labs and help me with seminars and making the most of my Meyer products.
Don, always was showing off pictures of his wife Fran ,daughters Toby and Missy,and grandchildren. Proud to be able to have there photos in his Ipod. He loved his family deeply. I only knew Dr. Don for a few years, seems to short of a time for a man that had a lot to give. I'll miss you buddy.
Mike Tomaskovic-DSO monitor engineer

Written at 9:41pm on Jan 17, 2006 by Mike Tomaskovic-Lisle, Illinois

I learned of Don’s passing from an audio forum just yesterday (January 17th 2006) and I am still in the state of disbelief. I worked with him when I was in the states for a couple of years. It was a privilege to call him my dear friend. During those years at Pro Media/Ultra Sound I managed to learn from his vast knowledge of audio. Being a newbie back then, this little Asian kid asked him many many silly questions, and Dr. Don always gave me the answer in his own unique way. He introduced me with “excellence in audio “. What a great experience that was….

A couple of months ago through email, I asked him when he will visit me. He said he has never been to Indonesia. He also said that he is willing to do an audio seminar for free. What a great and generous guy…

Don, thank you so much for your friendship. I am sorry that you didn’t have the chance to come by and visit and enjoy the Bali vacation with Fran like you promised me.

My condolences for his family, especially for Fran and Toby.

Toto Wibianto - Jakarta, Indonesia
8658 miles away from the Bay Area

Written at 6:03pm on Jan 17, 2006 by Toto Wibianto

HI -
does anyone know if Dr. Don did the sound for the Atlanta Olympics at Olympic Park...I think I drank Port wine with him right before the bombing...if this was him, wow and after reading all of these articles I didn't know I was in the presence of such a great man...I thought he was just another Deadhead!
RIP
S

Written at 3:32pm on Jan 17, 2006 by Stefanie

I spent two days during a Meyer Sound seminar with “Dr. Don” and I can honestly say that he left a lasting impression on me that I will never forget. I gained so much knowledge from this man in such a short time. He was a great wealth of knowledge and was all to willing to share it with everyone he came in contact with. Everyday day I spend working in the world of audio I will use parts of that valuable knowledge that he passed on to me.

I think the position he held at Meyer Sound was so perfect because not only was he working in an industry that he loved and knew just about everything there is to know about, he was also passing on the things he had learned through all his years to others like myself.

He will be missed but his work will carry on forever.

Thank you Dr. Don

Written at 6:48am on Jan 17, 2006 by Eric Thomas

I have lost quite a few friends over the last couple of years, both personal and professional, but this one is by far the closest and the hardest. I feel as though I have been walking around in a daze since I got the news. I have worked for Ultra Sound since it was acquired by Pro Media some years ago and I have had the honor of working with Don in many capacities since that time. He was perhaps the most open and free person that I have worked with in a business that is full of people who keep their cards held close to their chest. Don was never secretive or cagey when it came to his methods and practices. He was always willing to share with you how he did something (or how he thought you should do something). Whether working on a show, an installation, a system design, or a new method for measuring a system, he was always free with ideas and information, stories and examples, thoughts and theories. I first met Don in the early 80's at the Henry J. Kaiser arena in Oakland where the SF chapter of the AES was getting a tour of the sound system used by the Grateful Dead who were doing one of their fabled multi show runs their. Don was our tour guide and he was in full Dr. Don mode, explaining every detail of the sound system and it's operation from the power distribution to the mics used for measurement. I got a glimpse that day of the man who would become my friend, coworker and mentor many years later, and the way that he would share everything. No secrets! I never saw him happier than he was when he was teaching or explaining, whether it was in the structured environment of a seminar or the impromptu hallway discussion of an upcoming show. He would always give every project his all and expect the same of those around him. Nothing seemed to disappoint him more than somebody who just didn't seem to care.

We spoke last just before Christmas. He called to forward some ideas that he had about a system that he had designed and that I was working on. It was clear that he had been rolling the subject around in his head looking for ideas. I was touched that he would call me out of the blue to help.

He is gone now, and will be sorely missed, but one thing that we know for sure... that big PA in heaven is starting to sound a lot better already.

RIP Don.

Written at 6:14pm on Jan 16, 2006 by Michael Jackson

I think I speak for many a music fan who did not
know Don personally but knew of his great craft.
Me and my friends often were amazed at the fantastic
often pristine sound at the many,many venues we were
lucky enough to see the Grateful Dead in. We would
look forward to any changes in the sound system and try
to listen even harder to try to hear Jerry that much
better. Don gave us all a great gift,the gift of great sounding music.For that he will always be remembered.

Written at 12:59pm on Jan 16, 2006 by A Grateful Fan

In the past 10 months or so that I've known Don, he has become an integral part of both my professional and personal life. So much so that the distinctions between the two are blurred. Don's professional influence on me has been tremendous. Much of the work I am doing now is based directly on our conversations and meetings. I was a conduit for realizing some of his ideas and he was my mentor providing me with an education that would have taken me years to acquire on my own.

Beyond the office, we were very good friends. He was one of my best friends. He was always there for me when I needed him to be. Our Tuesday night new DVD release watching ritual was one of the high points of the week. He was always friendly, generous and enthusiastic. I was proud to have known him and to have him as a friend and co-worker. I hope to continue my friendship with his wonderful wife, Fran, who always made me feel welcome in their home and who has cooked us some delicious meals.

Dave Grossman

Written at 11:58am on Jan 16, 2006 by Dave Grossman

I first met Don in the 1970's, backstage at a GD and JA/JS free concert in the Panhandle. As a scrawny teenage musician working "security," I received more than my share of indifference at the hands of crew and attendees alike, most of whom were content to ignore the new kid. But Don saw me standing alone and struck up a conversation, continuing to include (and introduce) me as others joined us. He was that kind of person...empathic and sensitive to those around him. I never got to know him well, but he always had a smile and a greeting for me when we'd meet. I count him among those who showed me, by example, that it was possible to pursue a respectable life and career in our industry.

Written at 6:03pm on Jan 15, 2006 by Daniel Keller

Hi all,

I am writing this as I pack to leave Marin County and head back to NYC.

Yesterday I attended a small memorial gathering with Don's immediate family. It was both sad and wonderful to spend a few hours remembering Don. While there are plans in the works for larger gatherings to remember Don, I did think of another way for many of you to honour and remember him:

Don's grandchild, 10 month old Charlie, was recently diagnosed with Hemophilia. While Don and I talk ed about almost everything, Don had asked several people not to tell me about this, until our child, expected later this month, is born. I am suggesting that if you want to make a gesture, a donation of any size to the National Hemophiilia Foundation (http://www.hemophilia.org) might be one way to do this!


Sam Berkow


Remembering Don Pearson:

Don Pearson was a great inspiration, teacher, friend and guiding force. Don loved playing the role of "Dr.Don - audio guru" - and after years as a road-rat, he recently found position that offered a way for him to teach others. He was thrilled to be able to share his insights into audio.

He was also stubborn as a mule. Don was relentless in is passion for finding the 'better or correct' way to do things - not just audio. He looked for ways to improve almost any thing he did. From audio system tuning and grounding, to making coffee or even toast, or the way he tended his garden. Don strived to find the method that yielded the better result.

Don did not suffer fools. Don was really touched by the fact that so many important and active people in audio industry (many of whom do not regularly speak) gathered together one night a few years back, after the L.A. AES convention to celebrate his 60th birthday ! It was a great party, and Don considered it his 'award for years of service'.

For me, Don was a friend, older brother and unceasing voice, urging me to elevate my game - no matter what I was doing! Last year, I was honoured to have Don be the best man at my wedding! I can not count the number of days I spent at Don and Fran's house - always working on a project two or planning new ones or just sitting watching the grass grow!

For those of you who didn't know, Don had a secret weapon - Don's wife Fran is as wonderful a person as you'll meet. Fran (who we call Fran-eeeee) was Don's personal support team. Few people knew Don before he and Fran were together - Don and Fran we married just a couple of years after I was born! I spoke to Fran yesterday, and she was happy that Don didn't suffer, or survive in a compromised state. Even after he passed, Fran-eee was supporting Don!

Last week, Don and I started a new project, and we spent a long day in the wine country north of San Francisco - in meetings in the morning and drinking fancy grape juice in the afternoon. Don was a bit nervous about his up-coming procedure, and we took a few hours to laugh about all the times he pushed me so hard - always to improve a design or change some software. We even laughed about the times I poushed back! I think it is no secret that Don was a major influence and a major inspiration for the development of SIA-Smaart!

One of my favourite 'Don moments' was the first time I sent Don a pre-beta sample of what was to become SIA-Smaart software. This fragment was able to perform a simple transfer function in real-time. It was late at night in NYC and I was really excited. I was pretty sure this was the first time a transfer function was running in real-time on a PC without a DSP. I emailed Don a copy, then called and asked "whata think?'. I was expecting some encouraging words..... Don rattled off 20 reasons why this was not useful - "there's no phase trace, your can't store the traces, you can't change the scales 27 different ways, the cursor needs to do XYZ..." and on and on. I was almost in tears - "Don, we just finished the transfer function less than an hour ago - we'll get to these features, but what do you think about the transfer function", Don just repeated his "wish list"! I wanted to cry! Over the next few years, Don's wish list never seemed to get smaller no matter how many items we included. Over the following years, Don and I talked about measurement, software, audio, and life in general almost daily! - I was very lucky to have him in my life!

I feel privileged to say that Don was a great friend. - and the sadness I feel today is really lessened by thinking about how lucky I have been to have Don in my life for so long! Add me to the list of those who loved and will miss Dr Don!

Sam Berkow,

SIA Acoustics

Written at 5:54pm on Jan 15, 2006 by Sam Berkow

It is with great sadness I read about and reflect on Don's life.

I first met Don while I was a student at IAR (Institute of Audio research) in NYC in the early 90s. I knew who he was as I was a fan of the Grateful Dead.

Whenever I was able to be at a show, Don - knowing I was a serious student would allow me to visit the FOH position and patiently answer as many questions as I could think of.

Later on, as I began working in pro audio, our paths would cross occasionally and he generously offered up advice on any topic I would ask him.

I feel grateful to have known him the little bit that that I did. His work and contributions to the cause will always be around to remind us of this remarkable man.

My sincere condolences go out to his family and friends.

Jason Brodsky
Asheville, NC

Written at 11:32am on Jan 15, 2006 by Jason Brodsky

Since Monday morning after receiving word of Don's passing, I have been in disbelief that this has happened. I talked with Don a few times about the procedure the week prior to him going in this past Monday. I was planning on stopping by the hospital on my way home that day to visit Don, and was waiting word on how it went.

I met Don 15+ years ago when I was working at Pro Media. I always felt comfortable around him, and enjoyed his energy and passion. Since he joined us at Meyer Sound, I came to fully appreciate that energy and passion for what he believes in. He enjoys people in the best way possible and I witnessed his generosity toward people, and amazing patience for working with everyone no matter what their level of knowledge was. He became a true friend, and I will miss him more than you ever know. The more time I spent with Don, the more I appreciated him and enjoyed seeing and talking with him about sound, audio and the industry. I will GREATLY miss that and his love. It has been an honor knowing him.

Written at 8:40am on Jan 15, 2006 by John Monitto

From the Jefferson Starship website late Monday evening


the name Dr. Don Pearson may not ring a bell with
MANY of you Jefferson Starship fans...in the year 2006
but without him...da J*S, Dead & Hot Tuna would
have NOT had the wonderful sound and success that they did........PERIOD...!

as a 19 year-old kid fan....listening to the J*S practice outside the hillside mansion
890 el-camino del mar, in SF [Paul Kantner & Grace Slick's home for many years]
and watching whales & waves crash on the shore below...
I befriended Don Pearson.

He is the kindest and most talented human being i have EVER MET....[still is!]
when i got hired to go on the road with the Jefferson's as a teenager [imagine that!] he was my hero,adviser,agent,uncle,dad,mentor,friend,teacher,pal,
guru......ect
he introduced me to many interesting folks like Bear & Garcia.
he and john meyer invented the most compact, loudest and best sounding monitor
speakers & amps ever used.
[at that time 1979, still today VERY highly regarded]
he was very critical in the development of
"in-ear monitors" [now very widely used]
and the software used to tune PA systems.....
[JBL Smart Systems...and beyond]
he was also very well known as a lecturer in regards to using the above equipment.

After a long stint with "our" bands he started a LONG trip with the Grateful Dead...
that lasted 20+ years.

Just wanted you to know the man i have admired most in my 32 year sound career.

I am not alone in my deep respect for him....he has thousands of fans worldwide!
mostly known as the systems engineer for the Dead & as the owner of Ultra Sound with Howard Danchik.
he mentored our longtime J*S sound man Andrew Slote among
countless others.

I asked him for some advice a few years ago on a CD i was co-producing for Shana Morrison's debut.....he loaned me very rare mics to record her voice, got on the web
registered & hosted a website for her, advised us on mixing, pressing and mastering,
then called his client the Dave Matthews Band to see if he needed an opening act for his summer tour!!! ....WOW!!
[imagine if i had asked him to help us produce it!!]

here is a super photo of him on this website....[i have it full size now, as a desktop]
http://www.meyersound.com/news/2004/don_pearson/

ANYONE that has enjoyed the DEAD or J*S or Hot Tuna owes Don a debit of gratitude
for his fine live sound PA tunings and Sound Board Recordings.

I had the pleasure of installing a new Meyer PA system in the Masonic Auditorium
with him a few years ago, with weeks of work and follow-up tunings & meetings.

Over the 10 years i worked for Bill Graham we must have
done 100 Grateful Dead shows...from loading the truck at
Ultra Sound to meeting at the venue...unload...set-up..
play the gig for 2-4 days....then reverse & repeat x 100!

I found a wonderful interview with don & phil lesh on david gans fine radio show.

http://www.well.com:70/0/Art/grateful_dead/pearson.txt

Don Pearson DIED Monday morning at the hands of a marin doctor doing a heart procedure that was to help him live a longer life......he was NOT even seriously ill.
his "overnight bag" was left in his car as he was expected to be going home soon.
no strokes......no heart attack ever...no hep-c...
[like our late brother Chet Helms]

as his Marin county town [San Anselmo] flooded on NY day i wanted to call him
and did not for some reason, not wanting to bother him i guess...i now regret this.
a thousand friends and fans will be VERY SAD as news now quickly spreads.

EXPECT a giant memorial concert at the Fillmore Auditorium soon.
[we are looking at open dates in the latter part of this month, january 2006]

We were NOT done with you brother.....! Will miss you every day we live-on,
thanks for your wonderful mentoring and friendship Don.......Rest in Peace

My deepest condolences go out to his wife Fran, his friends, colleagues and family.
His warm and generous spirit will be missed by all of us. I loved him greatly.
His was a life of great success! He helped and touched many others.

John Murray

Jefferson Starship 1979-2005
your great friend for 28 short years

Written at 1:08am on Jan 15, 2006 by John Murray

Dear Mike,

We informed about death of Don Pearson, It's hard to hear that Pro Audio lost another part of it's family.
Please accept and send our sympathize and condolence to his family and also friends. hope his family can change the power of inquietude to power of living and loving. may his soul be pacification.

Jafari brothers
JTS Pro Audio-Iran

Written at 1:00am on Jan 15, 2006 by Jafari Brothers

It was a real privilege to work with the good doctor in the Meyer Sound Seminars. I first met "Dr. Don" during a seminar taught by Mauricio Ramirez. After Mauricio completed his lesson about phase, Don turned around to Gavin and said, "That's the best I've ever someone teach phase." Mauricio was very flattered of course. At that time Don was attending the seminar, and shortly after he was part of our team. The Don and Gavin show was born and left me with some of the most memorable moments in my audio career. To watch others respond to him about power and grounding was priceless. He had the best jokes too. I regret not taking the time to ask more questions about the history, about all-pass filters, about clean power, and the daily inquiries that it seems only Don could answer. I'll never forget how he would always make the time to explain his techniques. He never turned anyone away who asked for his help.

He had a rare gift. The gift of getting you to think outside the box (Especially when you didn't want to ). I had the honor of riding shotgun back from a seminar in Fresno in Don's Lexus. It was one of the most, if not the most, interesting 3-hour discussions about the industry and about life. We must have called David Grossman 9 or 10 times about new Compass features that evening. He had a lot of great ideas and it will be the spirited debates that I will miss the most.

He and I created a mission during our seminars: to find the one restaurant that made the best cappuccino. This was a hopeless task and we tried some of the best and worst coffees the U.S has to offer. As much as he knew about audio, he also knew a lot about coffee. Quality was always a concern in every avenue he explored. It was fun to hang out and hear the stories. He had some of the best.

As an instructor, I consider myself more like the Rookie rather than a seasoned pro next to Don. After every seminar we would complement each other on our presentation. I still disagree with him. His was better, hands down. You could always count on Don teaching you about the fundamentals, the stuff we forget about being from the MTV generation. I believe everyone walked away with something valuable about Power and Grounding. Even the veterans.

He was also our walking news bulletin, our encyclopedia, one of our most valuable resources. He became a utility for most of us in that if there was a question about the industry and how something should work, Don was the one to ask. He new something about everything and if he didn't know something about a topic you brought to his attention, he'd do the research and tell you everything about it by the end of the day. When he wasn't traveling he would report something new about our industry via phone call or when he stopped by. This was as Gavin calls it: "Making the rounds" like a good doctor checking in on his patients. Whether it was how the latest device by another manufacturer was doing something unique and interesting or it was how "the classic B&K Analyzer has some of the best features over any other analyzer on the market." At the end of almost everyday, I was faced with the thought: "Maybe this is something to seriously consider implementing in the near future." If you are ever ruinning the Meyer Compass Control Software and you have the system map window up, there's a feature under the control menu called "Toggle All Polarity Settings." Anytime you use that feature remember that it was a Don Pearson idea.

Don was always giving us the "What we should know and how things should be done." Those of us who worked with him will miss that part the most. The guy who gave to others: the ideas and the inspirations to move the industry forward; he made us think about it. More "what ifs" and "what abouts" than anyone I know. I will always remember his passion, tenacity, and thorough commentary about audio. Always ON, Always Running.

Written at 12:35pm on Jan 14, 2006 by Todd Meier

I have learned a lot from Dr. Don since I started posting on the LAB in early 99. I later corresponded with him through email, and finally met him in late 2004 at one of the Meyer seminars Gavin put together with Mauricio. I was there early and managed to get a seat next to him. The 4 of us had dinner after the second day, and I for one had a great time listening to audio war stories. I'm certain Mauricio would agree. Don loved to talk, and we all loved to listen to what he had to say. I had the impression that Don enjoyed his life. I will miss him, and miss emailing him whenever I have a question. I consider myself fortunate to have known Dr. Don.

Written at 11:52pm on Jan 13, 2006 by Harry Brill Jr.

I feel grateful to have had such an opportunity to work with Don for several years before he left Ultra Sound. His interest in audio was infectious and inspirational, and that passion poured into other areas of his life too: good restaurants, gardening, coffee, and technology to name a few. I could only dream to have half the motivation that he had.

Don's intelligence was amazing and not condescending. If any of us were interested he would show us something new and cool and ask our opinions. He certainly had some opinions to share as well! We would be forced to 'up our ante' and stay in the game with him. I have many, many fond memories of the discussions and debates all of us would get involved in.

Gavin is correct with his generosity: he showed me how to make the perfect cappuccino, and then loaned me HIS machine! I make sure to take care of it as he told me to. I imagine I'm not the only one who has a bit of Don in their possession.

Some of my favorite memories are when we got him talking about the old days and heard war stories of the Dead, Starship and Tuna…all the experimenting, striving for excellence, and pushing technology to the limits. I think it saddened him that in the modern era of budgets and accountants the chances to continue that progression diminished greatly. May we try to follow in his path with his passion.

His network of friends is beyond belief. There are many people that I know throughout this industry because of Don. I hope we can all keep that bond going without him.

I will miss working next to him, calling him for advice or simply hanging with him. He was my friend, teacher, mentor, partner-in-crime, and big brother. I will miss him dearly.

Written at 10:33pm on Jan 13, 2006 by Tom Lyon

I was fortunate enough to know Don Pearson for a number years and worked with him both at Ultra Sound and then at Meyer Sound. He was without a doubt one of the most unique, generous, and caring people I have ever known and likely will ever know. He had tremendous knowledge and experience and was always ready and willing to share with anyone no matter what their level of expertise. He was a walking encyclopedia of audio history with the experience to back it up and took pride in the fact that people referred to him as Dr. Don or simply “the Doctor.” In my years with Don I often witnessed the endless barrage of phone calls he would receive from people all over asking for his help. As Sam Berkow of SIA Acoustics noted in his post on the Live Audio Board, Don loved being the “audio guru” and willingly dispensed his guidance and advice to anyone who asked (and maybe even at times to people who didn’t ask).

His generosity knew no bounds. He was always saying things like “you need to be using this microphone,” or “this preamp,” or “this software.” And without fail the next time you would see him he would come bearing that particular item and insist that you take it and put it to use. His offers of guidance and assistance were unending and, of course only now, do I feel the full sting of regret for the times I didn’t make full use of the opportunities he gave me to learn and absorb all that he offered.

I remember my first real interaction with Don came right before I went to work at Ultra Sound. Don called me up out of the blue. I had met him maybe once or twice before, and I remember how I was completely disarmed by the way he talked to me like we were already close friends and had known each other forever. This was in no way an isolated incident. This was just Don’s way and I witnessed the same thing occur with other people he met and immediately pulled into his circle. And what a circle that was. Knowing Don gained you entry into the most incredible network of extremely talented and exceptional people with the prevailing attitude being that “any friend of Don’s is a friend of mine.”

Don had very high standards and believed in always doing things right without compromise. He would refer to this as “the Ultra way.” I remember when I was at Ultra Sound with him, I once asked him to tune the system for a theatrical production we were providing gear for. Don came in to tune at the end of the day and after he finished tuning he said that the system was not up to Ultra standards. I was crushed and he would not be dissuaded. Despite the fact that the client was perfectly happy, Don wasn’t and that was all that mattered. But if, at times, Don was generous with his criticism, he was far more generous with his compliments, support, and encouragement. He was always there to build you up, nourish your confidence and push you forward.

Don was a joy to be around. Not to say that he couldn’t be opinionated and irritating. But that was one of the joys of being around Don. In thinking of Don, I realize that there is almost no one, with the exception of my wife, with whom I felt I could be as entirely candid with as I was with Don. We bickered and argued regularly. He could irritate me and I know that I equally irritated him. But the beauty with Don was that, although we might disagree, argue, and even at times yell at each other, there was always an unqualified acceptance and love from Don for those he was close to—and Don was close to a lot of people. He emanated profound warmth, caring, and fierce loyalty to nearly everyone he knew.

Now as I sit at Meyer Sound and stare at his empty desk I keep thinking, “But he was just here a minute ago.” The thing about Don is that he was always there—whenever you needed him.

He would often say to me, “I just want to make a difference.” Don, with all my heart I hope you know that you made all the difference in the world to me. More than I will ever be able to adequately express.

Written at 11:49am on Jan 12, 2006 by Gavin Canaan