Sound Engineer Legend Dies

Monty Lee Wilkes, the reputed tour manager and sound engineer for Minnesota’s First Avenue venue, died at the age of 54 Aug. 26, according to the Star Tribune.

First Avenue.

At First Avenue he worked for decades as the sound engineer and was honored with a star on one of the club’s walls, next to the names of the bands he worked alongside.

He also taught at St. Paul’s McNally College of Music and produced local artists. Wilkes was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2015 and died in the home of his parents in Kettle River, Minn.