38 Facts About Bob Heil

Robert Gene Heil was an American sound and radio engineer who created the template for modern rock sound systems.

Bob Heil founded the company Heil Sound in 1966 and built touring sound systems for bands such as The Grateful Dead and The Who.

Bob Heil was a musician, and played the Wurlizter organ in concert halls and theatres.

In 1973 he invented the Bob Heil Talk Box, which was used by musicians such as Peter Frampton, Joe Walsh and Richie Sambora.

Bob Heil was an innovator in the field of amateur radio, and manufactured microphones and satellite dishes for broadcasters and live sound engineers.

Bob Heil was born in 1940 in St Louis to Bob Heil and LaVerna, and lived in Marissa in the coalfields of southern Illinois.

Bob Heil became a proficient theater organ musician at a young age, performing at various local restaurants from the age of 14.

Bob Heil learned how to tune and voice the thousands of pipes in the Wurlitzer, which taught him how to listen and dissect discrete tones, an important skill throughout his several careers.

Bob Heil was a student of organist Stan Kann and played the Wurlitzer organ in concert halls and restaurants for 12 years.

Bob Heil experimented with live sound systems and became the technician at venues around St Louis, from auditoriums to bowling alleys.

Bob Heil replaced the 15-inch speakers with JBL D140s, and added an array of four radial horns and ring tweeters, all driven by McIntosh Labs amplifiers.

Bob Heil brought in a modified Langevin studio recording console which had been adapted for live work.

Bob Heil had developed a unique technique to handle feedback problems, a small second microphone taped behind each main microphone.

Bob Heil's setup became a template for modern concert touring sound systems and the 'Bob Heil' brand became ubiquitous in venues across the US.

In 1978, Bob Heil published a "Practical Guide for Concert Sound" which "became a field guide for techies and roadies worldwide".

Shortly after the article was published, Bob Heil received a call from the management of The Who.

Bob Heil founded Bob Heil Sound, which was based in Fairview Heights, Illinois, and manufactured a variety of microphones for professional use, as well as gear for Amateur Radio enthusiasts.

Bob Heil has lectured at major electronic conventions and taught classes and has won numerous awards and honors.

The Bob Heil Talk Box became famous after being used by Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton, and Richie Sambora.

The Bob Heil Talk Box was developed in 1973 and was built for Joe Walsh's Barnstorm Tour.

Frampton frequently used a Bob Heil Talk Box after receiving one as a Christmas present from Bob Heil in 1974, and it can be prominently heard on his 1975 album Frampton.

Bob Heil worked on fixing problems in the industry involving poorly transmitted and received audio.

Bob Heil developed his HC series microphones for amateur radio communication.

Bob Heil Sound was an early installer of large satellite dishes for radio.

In May 2011, Bob Heil became the host of a live weekly Ham Radio Netcast "Ham Nation" on Leo Laporte's podcasting network, TWiT.

Bob Heil was on the original test team for the RCA DirecTV dish system.

Bob Heil worked as a teacher and lecturer, often appearing at major electronic and satellite conventions.

Bob Heil taught classes at CES and NAB shows in Las Vegas, Trebas Institute in Toronto and Blackbird Academy in Nashville.

Bob Heil published five books on music and sound technology.

Bob Heil lived with his wife, Sarah Benton, in Metro-East St Louis.

Bob Heil continued to play the Wurlitzer Organ at the Fox Theater in St Louis, and had a classic car collection, chiefly of 50s Thunderbirds.

Bob Heil's program was discontinued when WTWW's music programming moved to WRMI in 2022.

Bob Heil died from cancer in Belleville, Illinois, on February 28,2024, at the age of 83.

Bob Heil was the "International Amateur Radio Operator of the Year" in 1982, an award which had been held by Barry Goldwater the year before.

Bob Heil was later awarded the 1989 "USA Satellite Dealer of the Year" by the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association in Las Vegas.

Bob Heil won the Parnelli Award for Innovator of the Year in 2007.

Bob Heil was the first manufacturer to be invited into the Hall.

On December 20,2014, Bob Heil was awarded an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Music and Technology from the University of Missouri.