Jan 1, 2002 12:00 PM, COMPILED BY SARAH BENZULY

Who: Peter Chaikin

What: Director of marketing, JBL Professional

Main Responsibilities: Developing and marketing products for recording and broadcast applications

Previous Lives:

• 1998-2001, director of product marketing, Alesis Studio Electronics

• 1988-1998, 10 years with Yamaha Pro Audio as marketing manager, pro digital products and overall product manager for recording products

The moment I knew that working in this industry was right for me was…As a kid in New York, I went into the studio for the first time and fell in love with the sound, the equipment, the incredible arsenal of old Neumann/Telefunken mics. Hearing my vocals and guitars, I went crazy for the sound and the process. At that moment, I began angling toward a career in the control room. I hitchhiked cross country — visiting every 2-inch room in the Billboard Directory of Studios, trying to get in. I picked up the phone and called Phil Ramone at A&R, and I asked how to get into the business. I finally landed at the Record Plant in Los Angeles and got a job as a carpenter's assistant, building their big Studio C. I wound up working on some amazing sessions with The Eagles, Joe Walsh, Stevie Wonder, John Lennon, Sly Stone, Billy Preston and others.

If I could do any other profession, it would be…I can't imagine!

My best moment since working in pro audio was…When I heard Frank Filipetti had won the Grammy for Best Engineered and Best Pop Album for James Taylor's Hourglass. I had loaned Frank a [Yamaha] 02R for James to cut demos. To watch the project progress from demos to real tracks and the multi-Grammy win, that put a sensational touch on the project!

Currently in my CD changer is…I picked up three fun releases at Starbucks. (I don't drink the coffee, but it's a great place to buy music.) One is a jazz compilation, which includes Herbie Mann's “Comin' Home Baby” from Live at the Village Gate, Eddie Harris' “Listen Here” and a bunch of other cuts.

I enjoy…when I'm not in the office…Cutting video on the Mac, recording in my studio, listening to music and dancing with my daughters.

Send your “Current” news to Sarah Benzuly at sbenzuly@primediabusiness.com.

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