Photos: John Kander, James Rado & More Celebrate Abe Jacob

Long-time friends, associates and family gathered last night (October 6) to celebrate the 70th birthday of one of the theatre community's most treasured members - award-winning sound designer Abe Jacob.

Among those attending and who paid homage to the man who created sound design in the American Musical Theatre (with the original Broadway production of HAIR) included John Kander, James Rado, André De Shields, Jules Fisher, Robin Wagner, Loni Ackerman, Paige Price, with special messages from Chita Rivera, Patti LuPone, Elaine Paige, John Rubinstein, Peter Yarrow, Ted Neeley, Robert LuPone, Donna McKechnie, Kay Cole, Michael Butler, Charlo Crossley and more. Among the award-winning Sound Designers mentored by Abe who were there include Steve Kennedy, Nevin Steinberg, Andrew Bruce, Peter Fitzgerald, Joshua Reid.

Abe Jacob is "wildly talented" declared director HAL PRINCE who remembered the EVITA experience as one of the highlights of his professional life.

"I have known Abe Jacob for over 40 years, allowing me to be aware - for the rest of my career - of the brilliance and importance of clear, creative sound. I never realized just how truly complicated and sensitive the art of sound design is. And Abe has been successfully designing and changing as the theatre and theatres change. My first knowledge of sound design was foot mikes. Then through the pioneering brilliance of Abe Jacob, it has been transformed into what it is today and Abe is still doing what he loves and is dedicated to do," said CHITA RIVERA

The remarkable career of Abe Jacob has spanned four decades. He started in Rock and Roll at McCune Sound in San Francisco and went on to create concert sound for such legendary artists as Jimi Hendrix; The Mamas and the Papas; Peter, Paul and Mary; and the historic rock celebration, The Monterey Pop Festival and then brought that rock sensibility to Broadway audiences. Abe's remarkable achievements in theatre sound design virtually brought the field into existence. His major Broadway, touring and world-wide production credits include: HAIR (1970), JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (1971), PIPPIN (1972), THE WHO'S TOMMY (1973), SEESAW (1974), MACK AND MABEL (1974), ROCKY HORROR SHOW (1975), A CHORUS LINE (1975), CHICAGO (1975), JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (1976), THE ACT (1978), DANCIN' (1978), GILDA RADNER-LIVE FROM NEW YORK (1979), EVITA (1979), WOMAN OF THE YEAR (1981), CATS (1981), BIG DEAL (1986), BLACK AND BLUE (1989), The Gershwins' FASCINATING RHYTHM (1999), RAIN, A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES (2010) and many more.

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter Keddy

70th Birthday Toast for Abe Jacob

Cathy Stokesbury, Vicky Boyles, Adam Boyles, Abe Jacob, Linda Jacob, Amy Martinez

Abe Jacob and Robin Wagner

Abe Jacob, Paige Price and Ira Mont

Abe Jacob and Martin Gewiftz

Robin Wagner, Abe Jacob and Peter Brown

Family and friends mingling and watching the slide show

John Kander and Abe Jacob

John Kander, Abe Jacob and Albert Stevenson

Andre De Shields

Abe Jacob and Andre De Shields

James Rado and Andre De Shields

James Rado and Robin Wagner

James Rado and Abe Jacob

John Kander, Abe Jacob and James Rado

James Rado

Samantha Greene

Nevin Steinberg

Nevin Steinberg reading a proclamation from Mayor Bill de Blasio

Abe Jacob listening to proclamation

Abe Jacob and Nevin Steinberg

Nevin Steinberg gives the toast

Happy 70th Abe Jacob

Abe Jacob

Abe Jacob watching some of the video birthday wishes

James Rado and Andre De Shields watching James Rado!!

Robin Wagner

John Kander

James Rado and Andre De Shields leading everyone in song

The group singing to Abe Jacob

James Rado and Andre De Shields

James Rado and Andre De Shields

Abe Jacob

Abe Jacob

Abe Jacob

Abe Jacob

Andre De Shields, Abe Jacob and James Rado

Abe Jacob

Samantha Greene, Abe Jacob and Nevin Steinberg