Sam Lynn Halonen, a longtime friend of ASC, passed away on Christmas Day 2013 after a valiant battle with bone marrow disease.
Sam inherited the family capacity for making music, writing music and playing guitar with his father Gene and brothers Brian and Dean. He eventually established multiple recording and mastering studios, becoming focused on designing systems for delivering high quality audio.
When Sam started experimenting with TubeTraps, he found a product that allowed his creativity to flourish. He was instrumental in the development of the AttackWall, expanding on of the benefits of the Quick Sound Field, an arrangement Halonen also helped to pioneer.
Though Sam will be greatly missed for his exuberant spirit and unconventional sense of style, his legacy lives on in the world of music production. Engineers all over the world have used the concepts he championed, ranging from the legendary Bruce Swedien and new wave rocker Sting to the progressive-house producer deadmau5.
During his prolonged struggle with his illness, when anyone asked, “How are you doing?” Sam characteristically replied, “Everything I can!” He exploited every opportunity to live life to its fullest and most creative.
Sam is survived by his wife Penny and children, Rachel and Graham.
The family requests that donations be made to Rush University Medical Center for the Bone Marrow Transplant Fund. Please send memorial gifts to Rush University Medical Center, 1700 W. Van Buren St., Suite 250, Chicago, IL 60612.
