Hi Brian,
My name is Chuck McKibben, and for 2 years in the 1970’s, I was Mel Blanc’s studio operations manager in Beverly Hills. I’m also a 38-year veteran audio producer/director /voiceover guy. Today, I’m a freelancer with a studio in Westbury, Long Island. (I invite you to visit my website, www.voiceoverisland.com.) I found you by doing a Google search on Paul Frees, whom I recorded in session with Mel in 1973, for a Paul Parrott Shoes TV track. May I say that your site is just great! Although I am a huge fan of all audio actors, I never knew about Walter Tetley and it’s very wonderful to see his life’s work recognized. You and your partner’s pieces on other great voice artists are also absolutely super. Just wanted to send along my praise.
I am especially blown away by the “command performance” of Daws Butler. Holy cow, imagine a guy of his stature in the biz sitting down to do a retrospective of all his voices on tape, for one single individual who wrote a fan letter! Wow, what an amazing treasure! And what a demonstratiuon of the generous, dear nature of Daws, generally regarded as one of the nicest men who ever worked in Hollywood. I have a request to make in regard to that amazing tape: I have the opportunity to originate a radio show, for on-air broadcast in the midwest (also carried via webcast), called “Chuck McKibben Presents the Great Audio Actors” (this will be a non-commercial, not-for-profit project, incidentally). I would very much like permission to use the Daws Butler “audio letter” on my first broadcast. It would be a HUGE highlight! I will, of course, credit your wonderful website. As a return favor, I’d be happy to send you, on CD, a copy of Mel Blanc’s voice demo…now quite rare, needless to say. I worked on it with Mel several times, updating and changing the arragement of bits. There may be other items in my library of interest, which I’d share gladly (let’s talk!).
I’ll send this out to you if you’ll provide an address, and would also enjoy talking with you directly via phone. Thanks to both of you for creating a most entertaining and enlightening website!
Sincerely,
Chuck McKibben