1hr 19min   |   History Live! Series

​

Presented by Jim Mckee,
Moderated by Chris Buck

About the Production:

 

Earwax Productions, Inc. is an award-winning sound design, mixing, and recording studio in North Beach that has been “surrounded in sound and its possibilities since 1983.” Listen to a special evening of stories and sounds from Earwax Productions co-founder Jim McKee, longtime collaborator and friend of Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

 

Jim McKee shared the personal history of his decades-long creative collaboration with Lawrence Ferlinghetti, drawing from a diverse catalog of poetry, interviews, soundscapes, and “overheard conversations” recorded in and beyond San Francisco, between 1989 until the end of Lawrence’s life in 2021. Their relationship began when Jim was introduced to Lawrence by his mentor Erik Bauersfeld, Director of Drama and Literature at KPFA. Their friendship endured through decades and ended at Lawrence’s bedside near the end of his life, with a recording of Lawrence reading Little Boy.

 

This presentation provides an intimate tour of a rich audio archive of Ferlinghetti’s singular voice through the lens of Jim’s unique and personal perspective. Moderated by Chris Buck, “Ferlinghetti | An exhibit in 6 vignettes” collaborator, lifelong Ferlinghetti enthusiast, and founder of Ferlinghetti Day, an annual literary walk-about on March 24th, in honor of Ferlinghetti’s birthday.

 

About Jim McKee: 

 

Jim is the owner of Earwax Productions, which he co-founded in 1983. He has worked on major motion pictures, festival-winning independent films, documentaries, as well as popular IMAX productions. Jim has been at the forefront of major changes in sound technology, helping to keep audio standards high across all media. His resume includes the sound design for artist Ai Weiwei’s groundbreaking installation on Alcatraz, @Large to the familiar sonic brands and audio user interface with Apple, Facebook, Belkin, Logitech and Pinterest. Since 2007 he has mixed DVD/Blu-ray feature compilations for Pixar/Disney. Jim received his Master of Fine Arts from The Center for Contemporary Music at Mills College in Oakland, California and his Bachelor of Music Education from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Virginia.

 

About Earwax Productions: 

 

From its founding in 1983, Earwax Productions has charted a singular course across the sonic landscape. The team’s expansive approach has included art installations and innovation in the craft of storytelling through sound, music, and interview. At the same time, Earwax has established a praise-worthy reputation in the fields of commercial and radio sound design, sound for feature films and documentaries, and iconic sound effects for some of the world’s most respected brands.