Martin began playing trumpet in the 5th grade. Alpine Band Concert program
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Cover of Dixieland Devils music folder - Martin played 2nd trumpet in dance band during high school years
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Some of the music in the Dixieland Devils music folder. In addition to playing in the bands, Martin began experimenting with small portable reel tape recorders. This also led to interest in electronics and Ham Radio.
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Martin's ham shack John King (Martin's sister's boyfriend & later husband) introduced Martin to Ham radio
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Martin ham radio KN5YCJ 1956
 
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David Forchheimer in Martin's ham radio shack (Central school out window). Martin's friendship with David who was a classmate that worked at Alpine's KVLF radio station also peaked an interest in radio, recording and the music business.
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1964
The creation
of
Highland Sound Company/Phantom Productions, Inc.
In
the early '60s Martin spent a lot of time at Alpine's radio station KVLF with
DJ's Phil Wayne Evensburger, Bob Biel and David Forchheimer (a high school
classmate). He became "hooked' on the music and radio business.
The
photo above was taken in Alpine's KVLF studio at a time RCA was testing new
smaller video cameras. KVLF was only a radio station, however Gene Henricks
(station owner) provided space to enable the trial of the new RCA equipment. The
person at the mike is a French foreign exchange student Claude Guillimet.
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In the early 60's Martin began working with small tape recorders including the Monarch below sold by the Alpine Western Auto store.
One of his first jobs was recording camp fire songs at the Mitre Peak Girl Scout Camp
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Martin also began managing the Alpine High School band recordings using the Sony 300.
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When
the Believers (poster page 1, page
2) played at the AHS Junior Senior prom in 1964, Martin asked for
a copy of the tape recording made on their Roberts recorder (seen above).
The Believers
were a group of Sul Ross State College (now University) students. After the
prom the band members headed for their homes for the Summer of '64. Go
to Believers page
The
Lead Singer, Grainger Hunt (seen in the middle of the photo left)
stayed in Alpine with his family. Knowing Martin had a copy of the tape,
he
called and asked to hear it. Just the month before, for high school graduation,
Martin's parents bought him a Webcor stereo tape recorder which enabled "sound with/on sound." Grainger asked if
Martin would help him develop some new songs.
 
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Ron later moved his studio to Dallas and subsequentally to Menlo Park, CA where he built and serviced Ampex reel tape recorders and duplication systems. The company contiunes with new high tech energy equipment.
Accurate Sound Company amps were manufactured after Ampex quit producing them.
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Grainger Hunt & Peyton Starr - The Believers |
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The Believers 
The Believers with Lady Bird Johnson |
Martin made reel to reel copies using the Webcor and the AHS Sony 300
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As recording jobs picked up, Martin formed Highland Sound Company.
Phantom
Productions began as an audio recording company in Alpine,
Texas in 1964. Originally called Highland Sound Company (suggestion by Scottish grandmother), we produced record albums, radio
shows, film audio post production and music projects across Texas.
In
audio production microphones may be "phantom" powered. That is, remotely
powered. We liked the "behind the scenes" image that Phantom provided.
We work behind the scenes to provide professional services!
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This is an on-location job at the First Presbyterian Church in Alpine. Early equipment included the Webcor Squire, a Radio Shack microphone mixer and a couple of Lafayette microphones. These microphones were replaced with the Electro Voice 665s, Shure 556s and EV 635s.
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With his Mom's help, Martin built a mobile wooden recording console with a built-in custom microphone mixer. Here it is shown with the Webcor. The Webcor was soon upgraded to the Sony 600 tape recorder.
Here's a look at the mobile console with the custom microphone mixer with the Garrard Lab 80.
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Here's the mobile console with the custom microphone mixer, and the Sony 600. Behind the mobile console is an additional custom microphone mixer with a "panning" control. This is built into another custom wooden console that also has a Sony 263-D deck for duplication and the Sony 620 for on-location recording duplication and playback. Also seen in the photo are the EV 665 and the Eico 8020 amp Martin built.
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One of Martin's early recording jobs was assisting Peter Koch an Alpine photographer, add nature sounds to his movie. He had recorded the sounds in the Big Thicket of Texas and needed them processed and sequenced. The film Peter Koch produced enabled the Big Thicket to become a national preserve. Photo shows Peter Koch with David Forchheimer and two other men in the KVLF studios, Alpine, Texas (photo from Sul Ross University Archives). Note the abc test panel and the lens on the left from one of the small test video cameras seen in the KVLF photo toward the top of this page.
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Two rooms in Martin's parent's home in Alpine, Texas were converted into his first studio with a window for viewing the performers and sound proofing. Pictures here is the custom microphone mixing panel with panning effects, a Bogen mic mixer, the Eico amplifier and the Garrard Lab 80.
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Martin 's first studio in parents home Alpine, Texas 1965 1966 Alpine Studio rates
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Control side with custom mix console - it added an early ability to pan audio during mix down.
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Martin's recording studio in parents home
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Martin's Mom helped him build both the top fixed console, as well as the bottom mobile console on wheels which had its own custom mic mixing panel.
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This
photo shows the equipment in use in the early studio (1965-1966). The man
in the picture was the PR person for the Alpine ISD who recorded a weekly
radio program for the schools.
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The
pictures above are of a Phantom Productions (Highland Sound Company) remote
radio broadcast set-up for a concert at the Sul Ross State College's main
auditorium. The equipment included an Ampex 800,the Sony 600, a Bogan
MXM-A,
and three pieces of remote equipment from Alpine's radio station KVLF.
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Martin with Carol in Alpine studio 1966
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Martin with Carol in Alpine studio 1966
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Highland Sound car sign 1965
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It
was difficult to buy recording and sound products in Alpine. Martin had upgraded
to Sony recorders and approached Sony Superscope in New York with a view to
represent them in the Big Bend area of Texas. Sony connected Martin with Balco
Sound of Lubbock, Texas. The relationship resulted in Highland Sound becoming
the re-seller for Altec, Ampex, Electro Voice, Shure Sony and many of the
other major manufacturers. Martin's parents home and their commercial building
next door became showcases for recording tape and supplies, as well as the
full line of Ampex recorders.
Listen
to HSC Radio Ad for KVLF Alpine, Texas
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One of Martin's interesting on-location jobs  occurred August 4, 1969 at the Thunderbird Motel in Marfa, Texas.
Two brothers Hector and Jesus Flores from Ojinaga, Mexico were hired by Pepper Brown to provide some tracks for the background of a movie Pepper was producing.
Martin set up a Concertone 800 in one of the motel rooms and miked the voices and guitars. The recording took place while the two players sat on the edge of the beds. As midnight neared, the players realized they needed to be back across the border by midnight.
One of Presidio County Commissioners was attending the session offered his car for Martin to drive them the 60 miles to the border crossing. It was a fast trip, however they didn't make it. The player s said " no problem, my uncle is the guard."
Additional tracks were recorded at Highland Sound's studio in Alpine on October 27, 1969.
Play Malaguena from these sessions.
Listen to more clips
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Bob and His Agents (Sul Ross students) recorded in Martin's Alpine Highland Sound Studio.
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In September 1964, Martin received a Music scholarship to Sul Ross State College in Alpine. In addition to continuing to record area original bands, he provided the recording services for the Sul Ross Music Department. With Carol and Music major Louis "Corky" Thornton, Martin recorded all the recitals, choir and band concerts during the four years he worked on his Bach of Music degree. This included on-location tour concert recordings. When the band was on tour, one of the perks was to be able to ride in the college station wagon (while everyone else rode the bus); get to each location in advance and set up the recording equipment. Martin used his own recorders and mics, however the Sul Ross band director (Lloyd Cook) had two custom made 30 ' telescoping mic stands that would capture great audio of each concert.
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Sul Ross Orchestra
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Scenes from Sul Ross Fine Arts production of Brigadoon
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Sul Ross Band preparing to play for Lady Bird Johnson's arrival at the Marfa Army Airbase to attend the Fort Davis National Historic Site dedication. Tony Bronze, Carol & Martin in center of photo.
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Sul Ross Band on parade in Alpine
Lloyd Cook, Sul Ross Band Director
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Sul Ross State University Fine Arts Building
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Sul Ross State University band hall
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Sul Ross State University choir room where Martin recorded rehearsals and recitals using the Ampex 600
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1967 equipment
display with Eico amp, Fisher receiver, Garrard turntable, Altec speakers &
Sony 350
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Equipment
display with Sony 260. Note variety of literature from Ampex, Electro
Voice, Roberts, Shure Sony, Turner, etc
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Playback system with Altec Lansing Seville speakers, Fisher tuner and Pioneer Super tuner with Sony TC-600.
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This was Carol & Martin's playback room in the late 1960's with the Altec Lansing Seville speakers, Eico amp, Fisher tuner and Garrard turntable.
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Sony 630 Fisher tuner and Eico amp • Sony 630 and Altec Seville speakers
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Martin caught Joan Baez' concert in Denver in 1974 |
Marantz 5420 and Sony 580 in Martin's on-location recording gear in Odessa, Texas in the mid 1970's
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Phantom's on-location recording gear Odessa 1977
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Teac Model 2 mixer, Tapco 4400 reverb, Garrard Lab 80, Sony 580,Marantz 5420, Yamaha Amp, Teac A-3340, Altec Seville speakers, Teac, Shure and EV mics, Pickering headphones
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Phantom's
on-location recording set-up in the late 1970s included the Teac 334, Teac mixer, Teac 3300 2T master recorder, Tapco 4400 reverb and Marantz cassette master. Operating out of the Odessa/Midland, Texas area,
Phantom began completing on-location recordings for bands, schools and churches.
Austin Custom Records contracted with Phantom for albums in the Dallas/Fort
Worth and Houston areas.
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Due
to all the club noise, Martin asked this Odessa band if he could use their
equipment truck for isolation in mixing the live recording. The success of
that set-up resulted in Phantom's creating the van to below.
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This
van was customized for on-location recording in El Paso, Texas during the
Summer and Fall of 1978. Highland Sound Company and soon to be Phantom
Productions moved to Austin, Texas in November of 1978.
click
on the above pictures for a larger version
Inside
the van, we used the Teac 3340, a Teac 3300 2 Track, JBL L40 monitors, The
Teac Model 2 mixer with the MB-20 meter bridge, the marantz 5420 for making
a cassette copy for review and the Technics amp..
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The CowPokes
(last concert), Viscount Club, El Paso, Texas.  Click
here to listen.
Phantom Productions on location van outside Country Music venue in El Paso
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Martin' in Phantom's recording van with Carol Wilson
Carol & Eddie Wilson
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Phantom Productions on location van outside Houston church (below). |
Cheryl with recording equipment in Houston church
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Cheryl with recording equipment another on-location church
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DHS News report on Martin's recording |
Martin moved to Austin from El Paso in November, 1978
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 In
1980 we also produced a booklet about starting your own recording business.
It provided information on sources of customers and hints on the business
aspects. See our ad in the 1980 Modern Recording
and Music Magazine • Letter
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First
Austin on-location job upon moving company to Austin was at St. David's Episcopal
Church recording Mendelssohn's Elijah.. Darryl Marler (below) helped with several Phantom recordings during this period.
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Phantom
has always taken on a wide variety of production jobs. The first year in Austin
included everything from The church and private concerts, to Kade I Man at
Antone's (then in North Austin).
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Phantom
taped flautist Megan Meisenbach at an Austin Soiree sponsored by the owners of the San Antonio Street Piano Barn.
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Phantom Productions on location van in Houston for Austin Custom records album production
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Martin produced the Austin Texas album "Dan & Dave Live at the Backroom" This is a picture of the Teac 80-8 and mixer set-up in the back of Phantom's van.
Go
to more on Dan & Dave and listen to some of the album
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Martin with engineer Ben at Cedar Creek studio in Austin, Texas mastering Phantom's Dan & Dave "Live at the Back Room" with Peter Butcher producing.
See also Phantom's History 1980's |
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Phantom van at Austin's Symphony Square recording Clifford Zirkel's' Big Band
Phantom
produced an album for Clifford Zirkel's Big Band Sounds of Austin.
Click
here to listen to some songs.
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Martin took the position of Chief Engineer at Austin Custom Records. Later New Generations Productions staff also located at the Austin Custom Records offices.
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The Yellow
Page ad above reflects the period we were transitioning to our new name and
look.
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Phantom van at Austin's Lake Travis. This picture shows some of Phantom's first on-location music video work in 1979. The video camera can be seen sitting on the left bench. It was tethered to the VHS deck (bottom right). The blue cable was the 8 channel 100 foot Whirlwind snake. The decks were the 4 track Teac A-3340 and the Teac A-3000 2 track mastering deck. Also included in the picture is the microphone briefcase, TV monitor, assessor trays, 4 channel dbx, Marantz 5420 cassette deck, Technics amp and JBL speakers.
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Martin responded to this ad when he first came across it in 1978 in El Paso. He had purchased the equipment previously, however wanted to connect with the referral service. In 1979 ,Len Clark contacted Martin and indicated he had obtained my information when he bought Land Voice. A new company was formed that included Len Clark, Cheryl & Martin and Peter Butcher. The new company was named New Generation Productions, Inc. More Land Voice info View video of Peter producing in Cedar Creek Studio
Brochure 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
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New generations productions staff in Austin Custom Records offices.
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One of the Board members for NGP was Harvey Campi, Ray Campi's brother of Rockibilly. We produced and released the single "Little Young Girl."
 
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New Generations Productions officed out of Austin Custom Records and eventually Martin designed and NGP began building studio and office space a t the MET Center at Austin's East Ben White and Riverside Drive (pic right) Plan 1 Plan 2
Initially NGP was also working with the band Shammy consisting of James Mikulenka, Larry & Wayne Gathright (Music Lane Recording), The group was originally from Victoria and owned a recording studio that was built into a mobile home. The MET Center allowed the band to park the trailer behind Building 1 and Martin engineered some of the groups sessions.
When NGP closed their offices, Riverside Sound eventually  became the new owner. The studio was completed by Bill Johnson and Herschel Cunningham. One of Riverside Sound's first projects was recording tracks for Stevie Ray Vaughan's Texas Flood, for which the studio won gold records. read more... and more
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Phantom van during recording & production of the Sweethome baptist Church album
Phantom continued providing on-location audio recording services around Texas. Phantom vehicles 1980 in Austin
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When NGP dissolved, Martin & Peter joined to produce and promote music through Music, Etc. , and Rich Records.
While continuing Phantom Productions, Martin formed a new company with Peter Butcher. Peter and Martin had met while working on NGP projects. Using Peter's European resources, Music, Etc. worked to secure new music from recording studios in the US and promote them to international publishers and record companies. Peter and martin also enjoyed success during this time charting Leslie Gore's "It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To " on the US Billboard charts. See more
More Music, Etc. - Business Plan Newsletter 1 2 3 Artist Form
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Martin Cayce & Peter working on Rich Michaels record view more View video of Peter producing in Cedar Creek Studio
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Peter and martin produced recordings for Austin's Cain Sisters. There was a story that they had blocked Willie Nelson's exit from his home to ask he help them produce recordings.
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Phantom Studio Austin 1984
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Hank & James recording
vocals among the corduroys
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On location recording UT Austin 1984
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On location recording UT Austin 1984
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On location recording UT Austin 1984
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On location recording UT Austin 1984
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Housewives Choice - Andy, Jeff, Dave, Pat & James with Bruce
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Bruce Newlin & Judy
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Martin & Cayce Cage
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Martin, Bruce & Peter at Rollingwood studio |
James Hinkle Housewives Choice at Rollingwood studio
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Running Sound for Housewives Choice Austin 1984
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Martin in van recording Kim Meyers on 2222, Austin, Texas in early '80's
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Alpine Presbyterian church 1980s
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Martin in mix down room 1983 |
Phantom recording session at University of Texas in 1983
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Martin in mix down room 1984
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Phantom party, party 1983 |
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These pages were initially created to transfer photos from traditional scrapbooks to the internet in order to both preserve and make the pictures and history available to family and friends. It has become more extensive than I intended. However, I see it as a way to save the details before they slip away.
Martin T ©2015 Theophilus
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