Sear started his long and varied career as a classical tuba player. After 4 years at the Curtis Institute of Music, he occasionally subbed as the tuba player for the Philadelphia Orchestra. He later worked as a freelancer in New York City, playing for 6 years with the Radio City Music Hall pit orchestra as well as The Symphony of the Air, The Goldman Band, Sound of Music and numerous commercial studios.
In the late 1950s, he became interested in tuba design and began importing European tubas made to his own specifications from the Czech company Cerveny and the Belgian companies De Prins and Mahillion. He sold these tubas from a Manhattan showroom.[3] These tubas, popular because of their relatively low price, unique design and quality workmanship, were typically engraved with the name "Walter E. Sear, NYC" on the bell. Sear estimated that he imported/produced approximately 2000 such instruments. His background in chemistry (Temple University with BA degree from the George Washington University) helped with the metallurgical processes that he innovated. He also held a B.M. from the Catholic University of America and undertook doctoral studies at Columbia University.
Electronic music
In the late 1950s, he became friendly with Robert Moog after buying parts from him for a home-made theremin. In the early 1960s, Sear used his music industry connections to become one of the earliest sales and distribution partners of R.A. Moog. He encouraged Moog to make his synthesizers more practical; eventually leading (in the late 1960s) to the development of portable synthesizers which could be used during live performances. Sear also became known as a performer and composer (using the Moog synthesizer) for various movie soundtracks including Midnight Cowboy.[4]
Sear's pop compositions were also heard on his Command Records album, The Copper-Plated Integrated Circuit.[5]
Sear Sound is the oldest recording studio in New York City, with more than 285 vintage and contemporary microphones, four rebuilt Studer recorders used by the Beatles at Abbey Road and one of the earliest Moog synthesizers, built by Sear and Moog.[9][10] Sear Sound is the oldest continuously operated studio in New York.[11] The studio has been used by numerous notable artists, including Steely Dan, Björk, Lenny Kravitz, Yoko Ono, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Wayne Shorter and Norah Jones.[12]
