George Horn

Chief mastering engineer at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA and mastering engineer at CBS Studios, San Francisco. San Francisco native, born 1934, he passed away August 26, 2021, of complications from COVID-19. Note: GH in the deadwax of a Fantasy lacquer indicates Gary Hobish. At age 14, George worked in the electronic service industry repairing television, radio, and hi-fidelity equipment while attending engineering school. 1959 – As Chief Engineer of KAFE FM, George filed for a 100,000-watt operation with the FCC, moved the transmitter site to Mount Beacon in Marin County, and moved the studios to San Francisco. 1965 – KAFE FM was sold to a big conglomerate and became KISS FM. George continued to work in the broadcasting industry as an independent engineer until 1967 when he became Chief Engineer for the Kingston Trio Studios in San Francisco. 1969 – George moved to Mercury Records and designed and built studios for them in San Francisco. 1970 – He went to work for Bill Putnam’s Coast Recorders Studios as Chief Engineer. 1971 – George moved to Columbia Records as Chief Engineer, which was located in Coast Recorders’ building, but remained Chief Engineer for Bill Putnam in Northern California for 15 years. 1978 – He became Chief Engineer for Kendun Recorders in Burbank, CA. 1980 – He became Chief Engineer for Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, CA. 2008 – George opened his own mastering facility in Berkeley, George Horn Mastering.