How did you get into engineering and doing music?
JH: When I was 11, I got a HAM radio license. My brother and I used to build electronics stuff, like big amplifiers. When I was 14, I got a Hohner Pianet L with my paper route money and started playing in bands. I played all through junior high and high school. I went to the college music department and talked to the dean. I told him what I was interested in, and at the end of the conversation he said, "You're not going to fit into this department." I went to the psychology department – where the guys with the long hair were – and moved into a band house. That was my education. The singer in the band's father was an apple farmer, so we got to make some apple commercials. That was my first time in a studio. It was at American Recording in West Seattle. They had really wide tape – a 1/2-inch, 4-track Scully and a homemade board. I knew when I walked in there that this was what I was going to do for the rest of my life.
What was it that clicked for you?
JH: The electronics, the music, and the reverb! I wanted to be an engineer so I could put reverb on everything. We made some commercials, we made some money, and it was really fun. I decided I wanted to do more. As it turned out, my wife Manny is a brilliant salesperson. She took some music I had written, and the commercials that we had made at American Recording and started getting more work. My dad said, "You're getting a purchase order from a bank to make a commercial. You should go to our bank, get a loan, and pay everybody cash at the session." I went to Sea-West Studios, I paid the musicians in cash, and I paid Rick Keefer, the owner of Sea-West. After doing that a few more times, I was his new best friend.
That's brilliant! [laughter]
