Vale: Bruce Jackson, 'world's best sound engineer'

Australian audio legend Bruce Jackson, often referred to as "the best sound engineer in the world" has died in a flying accident in the USA.

Born and bred in Sydney, along with his school friend Philip Storey, Bruce formed J & S Research Electronics in the late 1960s, the company which soon became known as Jands.

In 1970, Bruce sold his share of Jands and went to America, where he did live sound for performers such as Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen and Barbara Streisand. Bruce went on to became one of the pioneers of the live audio industry, working with Clair Brothers Audio, Apogee Electronics and Lake Technology to develop many sound technologies we take for granted today.

In a statement Jands expressed their regret at Bruce's passing, stating "Bruce will be sorely missed by his many friends around the world, and by those of us at Jands who knew him from the early days, or who got to know him more recently through his involvement with the Sydney Olympics and other major events."

The Sydney Opera House Trust has announced that a memorial service for Bruce Jackson will be held in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall at 10am on Friday 25th February.

It is open to family, friends and colleagues to pay their respects.