Weekend Happenings - Singapore calling - Nerf too.

First off, the service for Tom Quarles (TQ) will be this Wednesday, Sept. 17 @ 2:30pm/Weed-Corley/N. Lamar. Wow.. I still can't believe he's gone. What a local legend and someone I looked up to. Gonna miss Tom.

In voicing news, Voices.com came through with a gig for Best Denki, a chain of electronics stores in Singapore. Makes a huge difference working with someone 13 hour difference in time. We're getting up while they are going to bed! This was a corporate video project that was a rush job. Of course I am coming off of some nasty cold/bug picked up from someone at the station!! Aaagh!! (snort, spit)

However one thing that does happen when a cold comes on, I can channel Don Lafontaine as I did in this audition for Nerf for VoiceCasting in Atlanta. Wow.. what a violent... toy? Listen to entire audition, it's kinda funny. Never voice angry..... or hyped up on antihistamines!! ;)

This week NAB Radio also hits town (That's David Rehr, NAB Pres above). I think he was against the bridge to no where from the beginning. ;) I will be attending the radio festivities, Tom's service, the Amtrak California session is also this week. Whew. Glad I can multi-task.

Loss of a voice legend, Don Lafontaine.

You might not recognise the face, but the VOICE you sure will. And it will beat you upside the head until you do! Don Lafontaine, pioneered the modern movie trailer that we all know today. Over 5,000 movie trailers and 100's of thousands of TV spots and promos are just some of the credits to his long 30 years in the voice business.
I was fortunate enough to have a chance to speak with Don from my home studio (ISDN, the way he did most of everything he voiced in recent years) for a book I am writing about people that make money from their voice. The book, (working title) Me and My Big Mouth, and How It Makes Me Money! is not necessarily how to break in to the business, but more about peoples unique story on how THEY did, and their success. I spoke with Don for about an hour, and found him to be the most gracious, humble, hard working and fun guys you would ever meet. One quote I got from him includes THIS ONE that pretty much sums up the book. Don died this past Monday, he was 68 years old. He worked all the way to the end, as many of us could only hope and pray for. He was and still is a legend that, although his voice may be silenced in body, will live on forever somewhere around the world, on some media. I'll miss you Don. I hope your new session is everything you thought it would be. Stand by?!? JK