Draft:Al Siniscal

Siniscal was born in St. Louis, Missouri, where he graduated from Chaminade High School. While there, he built and demonstrated a Tesla coil capable of generating a 150,000-volt spark. In 1959, he received a scholarship to Washington University in St. Louis, where he earned both a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). While attending university, he joined the USAF ROTC program and subsequently served as a First Lieutenant in the USAF Missiles and Space Systems Division.^[1]

After employment with Esso International (now ExxonMobil) in New York City, Siniscal was called to active duty at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah. He was promoted to First Lieutenant and was responsible for conventional munitions supplied to the USAF during the Vietnam War.^[1] While there, he became involved in off-base electronic projects, including building plug-in amplifier cards and recording consoles. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1969, Siniscal decided to pursue a career in professional audio systems, using the knowledge he had gained from his off-base projects, rather than return to New York with Esso.^[1]

He moved to Hollywood, California, and began building amplifiers and speakers in his kitchen and self-storage units, developing the concept of putting amplifiers directly into loudspeaker enclosures.^[3] His work was featured in the April 1971 issue of Recording Engineer/Producer magazine, in an article called “Bi and Tri Amplification”.^[4]  

In 1972, Siniscal presented a 10-page technical paper titled "High-Intensity, Modular Tri- and Quad-Amplification Loudspeaker Systems" at the AES Convention in Munich, Germany, introducing the concept of self-powered multi-amped loudspeaker systems to European engineers.^[5] He repeated the presentation two months later at the US AES Convention in Los Angeles.^[6][7]

By 1974, Siniscal developed the VIP system (Vertical Integrated Power),^[1] an early forerunner to line arrays, featuring tri-amplified, self-powered enclosures. The speakers and drivers were rigidly mounted using pressurized foam technology to improve damping and alignment.^[1]

Siniscal's company, A-1 Audio, provided sound systems for artists including Paul Anka, Wayne Newton, Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, The Righteous Brothers, Tom Jones, Ann-Margret, Engelbert Humperdinck and Shirley MacLaine.^{[1][8][9][10]} A-1 Audio operated from a 20,000 sq. ft. facility in Hollywood that provided services from research, design, construction, test, and delivery of sound systems for stage performers and showroom venues.^[11][12][13]

His designs, including flying speakers mounted above the stage, were featured in the October 1978 issue of Recording Engineer/Producer magazine in an article titled "The Doobie Brothers Touring System".^[14]

As concert tour groups required transportable sound systems that could be moved more efficiently from venue to venue, Siniscal developed a two-truck method of packaging a complete sound reinforcement system including all sound and lighting equipment, flying trusses and hoists, wiring, stage production gear and supplies into two 18-wheel tractor-trailer trucks.^[15]

In January 1980, he provided the sound system for Frank Sinatra’s concert at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã Stadium, which set a Guinness World Record^[16] for the largest one-man concert attendance by a solo performer (175,000 attendees).^[17]

In the 1980s, Siniscal expanded his business to New York and provided stage sound systems for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway openings of "Starlight Express" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamboat" and for other theater productions including "The Wiz", and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown".^[18] He also provided sound systems for the Gershwin Theater engagements of Shirley MacLaine, Engelbert Humperdinck, and Wayne Newton.^[18]

Siniscal designed and installed the sound system for Pope John Paul II’s 1987 visit to Dodger Stadium^[19], which attracted 75,000 people and the 1988 "Concert for the Masses" in the Pasadena Rose Bowl featuring Depeche Mode for 80,000 fans.^[18]

In 1989, Siniscal worked with British sound designer Martin Levan to supply sound systems, sound engineers and travel logistics for "The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber", a touring concert that played in more than 30 US cities throughout 1990.^[20]

In 1999, A-1 Audio was acquired by PRG (Production Resource Group), where Siniscal remained as a consultant.^[1][21] He later moved to Las Vegas and founded A1 Entertainment Services and managed installations including the 7000 seat concert hall at the Aladdin Resort & Casino (now Planet Hollywood) in Las Vegas.^[1]

Siniscal serves as President and CEO of A1 Entertainment Services in Las Vegas. He is a Registered Professional Electrical Engineer in Nevada and California.^[22][23]

In 2010, Siniscal received the Parnelli Lifetime Achievement Award for Audio Innovation, presented by Paul Anka.^[24] According to Parnelli Awards executive producer Terry Lowe, "Siniscal's work in the early days with Paul Anka led to not only better sound but to better performances, and to this day his influence is heard in every showroom in town."^[25] Siniscal is a legacy member of NAMM, and is profiled in the NAMM Oral History Program.^[26]

Siniscal has been a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for more than 30 years.^[27] He lives in Las Vegas with his wife Holly, an artist.^[1]