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John
Berry and Mackie Active Technology
It isn't often a man with
the talent and passion of John Berry comes along. Berry’s story began in
Atlanta, Georgia, where he was raised and began performing at the age of 13.
He toured the Midwest, playing college coffeehouses and selling his albums off
the side of the stage. After settling in Athens, Georgia, in 1985, he formed
a band and turned up the volume. Mixing current favorites along with original
material, Berry developed his remarkable voice and learned a great deal about
entertaining.
In 1990, he recorded his sixth independent record, with Nashville producer/writer
Jon Vezner. The following years were spent making regular trips to Nashville
looking to get signed. Berry impressed label executives at Capitol Nashville
so much at his first showcase––they signed him to a deal on the spot.
His eponymous debut in 1993 delivered the Top 30 hit “Kiss Me in the Car”
and was followed up by “Your Love Amazes Me,” which hit number one
on the country charts in 1994. Earning “Best Male Vocalist” nominations
at the Grammy, Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Awards
shows proved that Berry was well on his way to “superstar” status.
Hits like "What's In It For Me" and "You and Only You" followed.
Berry’s music became an integral part of the country sound of the '90s,
bearing an emotional resonance that continues to spur letters from fans telling
him the impact those songs made on their lives.
Wildest Dreams, Berry’s
first release for his new record company, Lyric Street Records, was released
in 1999. "One of the reasons we decided to call the album Wildest Dreams
is because when I listen to the music on this record, I feel like everything
about it is beyond my wildest dreams," Berry says. In 2000, Berry released
“Greatest Hits,” a collection of a decade worth of his hit singles,
as well as a Christmas album entitled, “My Heart is in Bethlehem.”
When Berry sets out
on tour, he takes along Mackie Active Loudspeaker technology to “wow”
crowds across America. Berry’s complete sound system consists of
Mackie Fussion Active Loudspeakers for the FOH rig, Mackie Active SRM450
Loudspeakers for the monitor foldback, and a Mackie SR40•8
console flawlessly handles the FOH mix.
Two Mackie Fussion
3000 three-way cabinets, along with two 1800SA
and two 1800S
subwoofer cabinets are used on each side of the stage to cover the audiences
in the 3000 to 4000 seat halls. Four Mackie SRM450s are used along the
front of the stage for foldback, with an additional two SRM450s used for
sidefills. Additional SRM450s are used for foldback for the drummer and
keyboardist.
And the results? John, who for years preferred using in-ear monitors, pointed
out that he gave up the “in-ears” and purchased a set of SRM450s for
his personal monitors. The reason? “They just sound better,” he says.
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