LESLIE ANN JONES

In 1975 I started at ABC Recording Studios in Los Angeles. I was the first female recording engineer ever hired there. Actually there were very few female recording engineers anywhere in the country at that time. I started doing tape copies and learning about recording studio equipment. Soon I was given the opportunity to be an assistant engineer; I jumped at the chance. Even though I didn't feel like I knew quite enough it didn't matter. I was fortunate to work with several recording and technical engineers who gave me help whenever I needed it. After a year I was asked to be the First Engineer on an album. Once again, I didn't feel quite ready, but I just went for it.

Three years later I moved to Northern California to accept a staff position with David Rubinson and Fred Catero at the legendary Automatt Recording Studios. There, I worked with such artists as Herbie Hancock, Bobby McFerrin, Holly Near, Angela Bofill, and Narada Michael Walden; and started my film score mixing career with Apocalypse Now. In 1984 the Automatt closed and I became a free-lance engineer, not tied to any particular studio.

In 1987 I accepted a position as staff engineer with Capitol Studios located in the historic Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood. I recorded projects with Rosemary Clooney, Michael Feinstein, Michelle Shocked, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Marcus Miller, and MC Hammer; as well as the scores for several feature films and television shows.

Ten years later, in February of 1997 I returned to Northern California to accept a position with Skywalker Sound, to manage and mix at their Scoring Stage. Being at Skywalker allows me the opportunity to combine my skills as a engineer in the studio with my desire to manage a recording studio. I also enjoy the unique combination of music for records and film. Skywalker Sound actually consists of four companies: Lucasfilm Ltd., which handles all of the George Lucas' feature film and TV activities; LucasArts Entertainments, which develops and publishes interactive entertainment software; Lucas Learning Ltd., and Lucas Digital Ltd., which serves the entertainment industry for visual effects and audio post production. My work involves managing the sound design of these productions. Some of the recent feature films we have scored the sound for here at Skywalker Sound include Jurassic Park: The Lost World, Hercules, James & The Giant Peach, Toy Story, Forrest Gump, and Mrs. Doubtfire. Several of the Indiana Jones and Star Wars projects were mixed here but that is just a fraction of the hundreds of movies that we have worked on. We handle much more than just George Lucas' films.

I am also National Vice-Chairman of The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the organization that gives out the Grammy Awards. I am the first woman to hold a National Officer position in The Recording Academy. Although I have been to the Grammy Awards show many times, this year was my first at the Academy Awards. It was fantastic seeing all those movie stars!

Archive of Virtual Take Our Daughters to Work Day chat on April 23, 1998.