The man who defined the sound of live rock
‘n’ roll music and brought audio engineering principals
into mainstream amateur radio use, Dr. Bob Heil, K9EID, has passed away at the age of 83. He was an ARRL Life Member and in the ARRL Maxim Society. A Facebook post from Heil Ham Radio paid tribute to their founder:
“Bob fought a valiant, yearlong battle with cancer, and passed peacefully surrounded by his family.”
Heil founded Heil Sound in 1966, through which he created the template for modern concert sound systems for musicians like the Grateful Dead, The Who, Joe Walsh, and Peter Frampton. The talk box
used on iconic live record Frampton Comes Alive! was of Heil’s design. His audio engineering products
have been featured in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and he was honored in 2007 with the Parnelli Audio Innovator Award for his impact on the live sound industry.
“My life has been about achieving great sound, whether on the concert stage or in the amateur radio world,”
Bob Heil recounted in 2022.
“I’ve watched Heil Sound go from a regional sound company
to a world-class microphone manufacturer. This company has been my passion,” he said.
