However, The Champaign Brothers have been involved with music in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1965, when they started their first band The Germs. Ted (10 years old) playing Guitar, Ken (9 years old) on Drums. They then became Pure Honey in 1967. Ted moved over to bass, we added Jack Long on Guitar, and Steve Wietz on Guitar. They earned extra money playing local elementary and Jr High School d
ances. Ted and Ken played in several bands through out their high school years, Ken with Lyle Workman,Gerry Coover, Randy Holmes, and Ted with Paul Reich, Tom Daher, George Lang. After graduating Branham High School (San Jose) in 1974, Ken went in to the US Army for two years studying Radio and Telecommincations before being Honorably Discharged as an E-4 Specialist 4th Class in 1976. After graduating Branham High School in 1973 Ted played Fender bass guitar in several local bands. Later he played a few years with Brad Barnett, Steve French Allen Hall,Larry Nixon in a country rock band "Dirt Road" that played the local club circuit. When Ken returned home he began running sound for Ted's band Dirt Road, it's at that point "Champaign Sound" was officially born. Ted and Ken joined forces to really get Champaign Sound moving , with the contacts and PA Ken had built up , along with Ted's contacts and PA he had built up with Dirt Road.They were now renting PA Equipment to local small & medium sized venue's, show promoters, local club owners and nationally known bands touring through the SF bay area. Ted and Ken have been doing sound for over 40 years. Together they have worked well over 3500 live concerts and with over 250 nationally known recording artists. Ken has taken over the day to day business operations and the company is now calling Waterford Ca. home, just 10 miles east of Modesto , working with the venues, and clients seeing over bookings as well as stage management. Ted now lives in Las Vegas, and has assumed the role he knows best, FOH/Monitor Engineering /Research & Development of new products and equipment. In addition Champaign Sound does offer some studio recording options. Ted has a Pro Tools digital computer based recording studio in his home in Las Vegas. Ted can also go mobile with a laptop and do remote recording in just about any location you desire. Ted still plays guitar, bass, keys, banjo, violin, viola, mandolin, lap steel, harmonica and sings.Ted builds guitars and cigar box guitars as well . Also in association with Karl Heebner we contract PURE AUDIO out of Santa Cruz to assist with some overflow work. Karl does a great job for us and we can get you in contact with Karl if you have some projects you need assistance . After 40 years and 4000 live concerts, Champaign Sound has now ceased all touring and Live concert sound. Ken has opened ‘Woodshed Recording Studio in Waterford Ca. 95386
A 750 sq ft fully digital recording studio Utilizing the X32 Console. A 350 sq ft live room, 300 sq ft control room and 100 sq ft Drum/Vocal isolation room. On Site Hammond Organ w/ Leslie , Drums. Assorted instrument Mic
Ken can be reached at 209 495 2869 or [email protected] or 100 I Street, Waterford Ca. 95386 also on Facebook at Champaign Sound Reinforcement .
