George Horn (Mastering)

American mastering and lacquer cutting engineer; born in San Francisco, California, passed away August 26, 2021, of complications from COVID-19.

Horn started working in the electronic service industry at age 14, while attending engineering school, repairing television, radio, and hi-fidelity equipment In 1959 he became chief engineer of KAFE FM. He filed for a 100,000-watt operation with the FCC, moved the transmitter site to Mount Beacon in Marin County, and moved the studios to San Francisco.
In 1965 KAFE FM was sold to a big conglomerate and became KISS FM.

Horn continued to work in the broadcasting industry as an independent engineer until 1967 when he became chief engineer for the Kingston Trio Studios. In 1969 he moved to Mercury Records and designed and built studios for them in San Francisco. In 1970 he became chief engineer at Bill Putnam's Coast Recorders and one year later started working for Columbia Records, which was located in Coast Recorders’ building. He remained chief engineer for Bill Putnam in Northern California for 15 years.

In 1978 he became chief engineer at Kendun Recorders and in 1980 at Fantasy Studios. In 2008 he opened his own studio George Horn Mastering, which he operated until his passing.