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Few people can claim they are the “godfather” of something, but with sound designer and Tucson native Abe Jacob, the title is well earned.

In the 1970’s, Jacob pioneered the role of a sound designer in theater production. Since then, sound design has become a standard necessity for major plays and musicals across the country.

A sound designer is responsible for everything that the audience hears during a performance. To prepare, Jacob has to find a balance between the acoustics of the room, the equipment available, script specifications and director requests, among other considerations.

“My job is to try to make sure every seat in the theater hears what the sound is like at its source,” Jacob says.

This process can take anywhere from six weeks to two years for an original show; setting up an existing show can be accomplished in about one week.

While Jacob is well known as the original sound designer for shows like “Cats” and “Jesus Christ Superstar,” his beginnings in sound design spurred from a completely different musical realm – rock ‘n’ roll.

Born in Tucson, Jacob moved to San Francisco at the age of 10 and went on to attend Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Back in San Francisco, he worked part time at McCune Sound, the company that connected him with artists like Jimi Hendrix. Jacob set up shows for Hendrix on tour until Hendrix’s death in 1970. He also toured with Peter, Paul and Mary, and the Mamas and the Papas.

“So much was different than it is now. Performance was based on musical talents, not on truckloads and truckloads of equipment like it seems with concerts these days,” Jacob says.Most concert acts of that era relied solely on equipment from the local venue, but it was Hendrix and the Mamas and the Papas, accompanied by Jacob, who first began to carry their own equipment, which helped them control the quality of the sound everywhere they performed.In 1969, “Hair” producer Michael Butler asked for Jacob’s help improving the show’s sound, and ultimately brought Jacob into the world of theater.

For four decades, Jacob has worked on sound design for major shows. He has transitioned with new technology, faced critics who didn’t like concept of sound design, and increased respect for the position by forming a union for sound designers.

“It’s taken about 20 years to become the fourth contributor to theater. Along with sets, lighting and costume, sound is now thought of as equally important,” Jacob said.Now an audio consultant for the New York State Theater, Jacob returns to Tucson each year to visit his family and to set up sound for an upcoming show by the Arizona Theatre Company. In July, Jacob came to Tucson to set up the sound design for “Hair,” which will run from Nov. 29 to Dec. 20 at the Temple of Music and Art.Celebrating its 40th anniversary, “Hair” is a rock musical that portrays hippies in New York City rebelling against the Vietnam War. The show features now popular songs like “Age of Aquarius.”“It’s going to be interesting,” Jacob said. “It will be a very good thing for the Arizona Theatre Company to present this very exciting piece of theater to a whole new audience.”And as for his being known as the “godfather”?

“It’s gratifying — one of the things that I’m doing now is teaching others,” Jacob says. “You could say I have lots of ‘godchildren’ out there doing really good work all over the country.”