Robert A. Luly, whose curiosity and genius enabled him to invent rock ‘n’ roll’s earliest amplifiers, hand-held satellite antennae and many other items, died unexpectedly Friday at his Centennial home. He was 65.
Luly designed and built music amplifiers in the 1960s for the bands Chicago, ZZ Top, the Beach Boys and others. Two decades later, he designed satellite devices such as the umbrellalike antenna used clandestinely to broadcast the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and the first American rockets falling on Baghdad in 1991.
“His genius took him from music man to rocket man,” said Dr. Jack Locke, just hours after signing the death certificate of his best friend. “He was by far the smartest and the most unique person I’ve ever known. He was truly a Renaissance man; he reminded me of Ben Franklin.”
Luly was born and raised in San Bernardino, Calif. He received an electrical engineering degree and teaching certificate from UCLA, then began dabbling in music. Legendary rocker Frank Zappa hired him as a guitar player but soon suggested he work with sound instead, according to Luly’s widow, Karen.
Luly formed a company, Solid Sound, and built the first amplifier for guitar legend Leo Fender’s new company, Music Man. He created the sound system for the Rolling Stone’s first concert in San Bernardino in 1965, then worked sound for a number of bands, according to Wayne Cherval, owner of Wayne Guitars.
“The Beach Boys loved his stuff, just because it worked,” Cherval said. “In the ’60s, we didn’t have the technology we have now and stuff was unreliable. Bob’s stuff worked. He was brilliant.”
Guitarist Eddie Van Halen once asked Cherval to help stop his guitar from squealing, similar to microphone feedback. Luly suggested soaking the guitar’s pickup in hot wax to prevent the wires from vibrating. “It worked and is now known throughout the industry as ‘potting,’ ” Cherval said.
In the 1980s, Luly became interested in communications satellites and improving retail consumer products.
He invented devices, nine of them patented, that improved reception for home satellite dishes, as well as for the antennae to track the satellites.
In the 1999 book “Cutthroat,” by Denver Post writer Stephen Keating, Luly is given credit for convincing EchoStar co-founder Charlie Ergen to build a satellite communications company instead of investing in distribution of apparel items like eel skin wallets and belts. Ergen is now ranked as Colorado’s wealthiest billionaire.
Luly is survived by his wife, Karen; sons Robert Jr., 18, of Greeley, and Steven, 14, of Centennial; daughters Bridget, 16, and Michelle, 11, both of Centennial; one brother; eight sisters; and dozens of nieces and nephews.
A viewing will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at Chapel Hill Mortuary, with a celebration of his life from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Pinehurst Country Club. Donations may be made for his children to the Robert Luly Fund, Wells Fargo Bank, 2350 E. Arapahoe Road, Littleton, CO 80122.
