George Groves (sound engineer)
George Robert Groves was a film sound pioneer who played a significant role in developing the technology that brought sound to the silent screen. He is also credited as being Hollywoods first sound man he was the recording engineer on the seminal Al Jolson picture, The Jazz Singer , as well as many other early talkies. In a career with Warner Brothers that spanned 46 years, he rose to become their Director of Sound and won two Academy Awards.
George was born onDecember, 1901 over a barbers shop at 57 Duke Street, St Helens, Lancashire, England. His father, George Alfred Groves, was a master barber and talented musician who founded the first brass band in St Helens. His son George Jr. was proficient in a number of instruments and regularly played the cornet in the towns Theatre Royal. He was also a lather boy in his fathers two barber shops in Duke Street and Owen Street.
Source: Wikipedia