Fred Ampel, 1947-2022
OVERLAND PARK, KS — Fred Ampel, a 50+ year veteran of the pro audio industry, passed away August 29th, 2022. He was 75.
Born August 6, 1947, Ampel grew up in Mahopac and Queens, NY. As a young man he worked at Cue Recording in New York City and earned an FCC 1st Class license. At Long Island University, Ampel got his BA in English and Music. Ampel then joined the Air Force, was stationed in Guam.
After his discharge from the Air Force in 1972, Ampel went on to Boston University, where he received a Masters in Electrical Engineering and Public Communications. During that time, Ampel was a recording engineer at Woodland Sound Studios where he learned how to work with multi-track tape recorders and mixing consoles. Ampel also worked for WBUR radio, where he produced a classical music program and at WGBH where he managed audio for Julia Child’s cooking shows.
At Woodland Sound, Ampel had met musician/songwriter Monty Stark, who invited Fred to accompany him to Los Angeles. In the 1970s in the LA area, Fred worked with KPFK Radio, Sound City Recording, Dave Kelsey Sound and founded Audio Concepts, his own company. During this era, Ampel became a recording engineer and worked with many well-known artists of the day.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Ampel worked with famed tour sound pioneer, M.L. Procise at ShowCo. He did FOH and monitor engineering for well-known artists of that period.
In 1988, Ampel joined Kansas-based Intertec Publishing, which at that time focused on agricultural magazines but wanted to expand into electronics publications. Intertec invited Ampel to move to the Kansas City area where, in 1988, he became the first editor of Sound & Video Contractor and a few years later, the first editor of Residential Systems magazine. During this period, Ampel also became active with NSCA, InfoComm, CEDIA and AES where he participated in event management, standards development and organization planning. Ampel authored and presented numerous educational programs and technology demonstrations at these organizations’ trade shows. He has been published in the proceedings of the IoA, AES, NSCA, InfoComm, and numerous other journals and publications.
After retiring from Intertec, Ampel formed Technology Visions Analytics, a consulting and business development firm. For his audio industry clients, Fred did business and marketing consulting, assisted in product development and performed market surveys. In recent years, Ampel worked as an acoustics and audio systems consultant for churches in the Kansas City area and created and presented educational seminars for worship organizations and at CEDIA Expo.
Ampel leaves behind an enormous legacy of service to his clients and the professional audio industry. Those who have known and worked with Ampel mourn his passing as a good friend and trusted colleague.
Ampel’s ashes will be interred near his parents in Hartsdale, NY. No funeral will be held but a “virtual wake” is planned for sometime in October. Those who wish to attend should watch Ampel’s Facebook page or LinkedIn page for an announcement. Donations may be made in Fred Ampel’s name to the Scottish Terrier Club of America’s Rescue Trust Fund c/o Linda Hill, PO Box 187, Gramling, SC 29348.