Milton Tasker "Bill" Putnam (February 20, 1920 – April 13, 1989) was an American audio engineer, songwriter, producer, studio designer, and businessman.
He began singing with a number of regional bands which played college campus gigs, developing his interest in jazz and the music business.
His use of the building's bathroom as an echo chamber for the recording of Peg o' My Heart was the first artistic use of artificial reverb in a popular song.
His reputation grew quickly thanks to his work with artists such as Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan, Little Walter, Dinah Washington, Vic Damone, and Duke Ellington, who said Putnam was his favorite engineer.
Sam Phillips sent Elvis Presley's Mystery Train and I Forgot to Remember to Forget to Putnam in August, 1955 with the instructions: "Give me 'hot' level on both 78 and 45's and as much presence peak and bass as possible!
"[11] Universal Recording had become so successful that clients including Nelson Riddle, Mitch Miller, and Quincy Jones began urging Putnam to open a facility on the west coast.
Determined to incorporate as many technological innovations into the new complex as possible, Putnam constructed new facilities, including a significant modernization of studio control room concept to permit multi-track monitoring and recording.
But he foresaw its importance and at his own expense, began making and stockpiling simultaneous stereo mixes of recordings produced at United.
He negotiated a lucrative deal, whereby he was recompensed not for the finished recordings, but for the (much more expensive) studio time used in mixing the stereo versions.
Playing video cues and sync recording mono audio for quick playback in the studio was also a very popular time saver.
In 1962, sensing a business opportunity in the Bay Area's commercial jingle industry, Putnam purchased a majority interest in Coast Recorders and moved the studio to a location at 960 Bush Street.
He and his first wife had a son and daughter, Scott and Sue; Grace elected to stay in Danville, Illinois with their children when Bill joined the U.S. Army Band and was stationed near the North Side of Chicago.
Bill Putnam died in Riverside, California at the age of 69;[17] he was laid to rest in Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village.
Many record executives and industry colleagues attended the service and a group of musicians formed a band to play some of his favorite songs.