Industry pioneer John Eargle was posthumously awarded the 2008 Technical Grammy ® Award at the Special Merit Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on the evening prior to the 50th Grammy Awards telecast. The accomplished engineer, musician, and longtime JBL Professional consultant passed away on May 9, 2007, leaving a legacy of achievement in music recording, loudspeaker design, and education. The Technical Grammy Award is presented by vote of The Recording Academy®'s National Trustees to individuals who have made contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording field.
“John Eargle left an everlasting and profound impression on the audio industry,” said Mark Gander, vice president of marketing, JBL Professional, who accepted the Grammy Award on behalf of John Eargle, along with John’s niece, Cyndi Bird, and nephew and namesake, John Paul Eargle. “He was a brilliant engineer, musician, author, and teacher. His 2008 Technical Grammy Award commemorates the industry-wide recognition of John’s accomplishments, as well as the considerable time he devoted to sharing his expertise, experience, and wisdom.”
In 2002, John and other JBL Professional engineers won a scientific and technical award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the concept, design, and engineering of the modern constant-directivity, direct radiator-style motion picture loudspeaker systems.
Eargle earned degrees in music and electrical engineering from the Eastman School of Music (B.M.), University of Michigan (M.M.), University of Texas (B.S.E.E.), and Cooper Union (M.E.). He was member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; a member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers; a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers; a fellow of the Acoustical Society of America, and reviewer of electro-acoustical patents for the ASA Journal; and a fellow, honorary member, and past president of the Audio Engineering Society, a member of the AES Journal Review Board, and was awarded the AES Bronze Medal.
During his 30-plus years with JBL Professional, Eargle championed the concept of flat power response in sound reinforcement applications, conceiving the application of bi-radial constant-coverage horns to both studio monitors and cinema systems. John also authored several books, including The Handbook of Recording Engineering, The Microphone Handbook, The Handbook of Sound System Design, and The Loudspeaker Handbook. In early 2007, he completed The JBL Story: 60 Years of Innovation.