March 6, 1959 - July 03, 2006
People often think that a band consists merely of the performers they see on stage, and in many cases that’s true. In the case of Smokehouse, however it couldn’t be further from the truth. In this renowned five man band there is a sixth man who quietly contributes his talents and makes the band sound as good as possible. Phil Beaupre has been doing sound and lighting for the band since its inception. He has been there for every award, every accolade. He has rejoiced when the sound mix comes out perfect, and winced along side the band when an equipment issue or acoustical nuance makes the mix difficult to perfect.
As with many of the members of this band, Phil has played many roles in his music over the years. He didn’t start out as a sound engineer. He, along with his brother Ronald, the band’s keyboard player, grew up in a musical family- surrounded by the talents of their parents and in a house constantly filled with music.
As a teen, Phil learned to play bass, and was quite adept at it when an injury to his hand forced him to put the bass down and contemplate how he could remain involved in what he loved. He decided that mixing sound would keep him close to his passion and allow him to feel just as fulfilled as being on stage. He began to purchase equipment and build a sound system that he could use when various bands needed an experienced engineer for their shows. He now has the equipment and ability to mix and engineer for such celebrities as Hal Ketchum which he did recently at a show in CT, but his heart remains with the band he began working with over 10 years ago- Smokehouse. As plans are made for the future of the band which includes a cd of originals, you can bet that Phil will be there every step of the way, behind the scenes at times, at the forefront in others.
He has also lent his energy, ability and equipment to various CCMA events over the years, as well as charity events benefiting local youths. He has done benefit concerts for the Pegasus Foundation of CT- an organization that uses horses as therapy for physically challenged kids, as well as the 1st Annual “For Kids’ Sake” show which benefited the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of New Hampshire which was held last May, 2004.
It is a tribute to his compassion and skill that in the world of music- where venues, performers and acoustics change, that Phil’s sound mix for this decorated band and others remains constantly exceptional.
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