Lee Jackson (composer)
Encyclopedia
Lee Jackson was the Music and Sound Director for the video game developer
3D Realms
from 1996 through 2002. He is most well known for his work on Duke Nukem 3D
, specifically for creating the game's main theme titled "Grabbag". He, along with Robert Prince
, created the game's instrumental background tracks, with Jackson creating all the new tracks for the Atomic Edition of the game. He was also the primary composer for the later 3D Realms title Shadow Warrior
, and was involved with many other games published by 3D Realms and Apogee Software
.
Grabbag has elicited many spin-offs and remixes over the years by both fans and professional musicians, including an officially sanctioned studio version by the popular thrash metal
outfit Megadeth
. Another version of the song was recorded by Chris Kline in August 2005. 3D Realms
featured it on the front page of their website and contracted with Kline to use it to promote their Xbox
Live release of Duke Nukem 3D. Grabbag was brought back and used again as the theme song for the 2011 release of Duke Nukem Forever
.
Lee was one of the first people to qualify for full voting membership in National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
(the Grammy organization) based solely on works published with video games. He is also a member of the NARAS Producers & Engineers Wing.
Prior to his career with Apogee/3D Realms, Lee attended the University of Texas at Austin
from 1981-1983 as a Music Education major and was initiated into the Alpha Iota chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
in the fall of 1982. He was also a member of the flag section of the University of Texas Longhorn Band and played bassoon in the UT Wind Ensemble and Concert Band. He left the University in 1983 and went to work for the Internal Revenue Service
's Austin Service Center with his wife, Brenda, whom he had married the same year. The two had a son, Nathan, in 1986. Lee and Brenda both worked at the IRS until 1994, when Lee joined Apogee Software's technical support department. He was promoted to the Music and Sound Director position in 1996. His wife, Brenda, is still employed with the IRS, working at the agency's office in Dallas.
Lee currently works in the Irving offices of Total Traffic Networks (formerly Metro Networks
, now a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications
) as a radio producer for both the Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and Austin areas. He also provides on-air traffic reports on the 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. overnight shift as the traffic anchor for 1080 KRLD (AM) in Dallas.
Lee was one of many former 3D Realms employees who worked on the long-delayed Duke Nukem Forever
and who attended the game's Happy Ending launch party held on June 11, 2011 at the Palladium Ballroom in Dallas , along with his wife and son. To put things into perspective, Lee's son Nathan was in 3rd Grade when development began on Duke Nukem Forever. Nathan is now nearing his graduation from the University of Texas at Arlington
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Composition.
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
3D Realms
3D Realms
3D Realms is a current video game publisher and former video game developer based in Garland, Texas, United States, established in 1987...
from 1996 through 2002. He is most well known for his work on Duke Nukem 3D
Duke Nukem 3D
Duke Nukem 3D is a first-person shooter computer game developed by 3D Realms and published by GT Interactive Software. The full version was released for the PC . It is a sequel to the platform games Duke Nukem and Duke Nukem II published by Apogee...
, specifically for creating the game's main theme titled "Grabbag". He, along with Robert Prince
Robert Prince
Robert Prince, also known as Bobby Prince, is a composer and sound designer. He has worked as an independent contractor for several gaming companies, most notably id Software and Apogee/3D Realms....
, created the game's instrumental background tracks, with Jackson creating all the new tracks for the Atomic Edition of the game. He was also the primary composer for the later 3D Realms title Shadow Warrior
Shadow Warrior
Shadow Warrior, often known by its initials SW, is a first-person shooter computer game developed by 3D Realms and released on May 13, 1997 by GT Interactive. Shadow Warrior was developed using Ken Silverman's Build engine and improved on 3D Realms' previous Build engine game, Duke Nukem 3D...
, and was involved with many other games published by 3D Realms and Apogee Software
Apogee Software
Apogee Software, LLC is a video game publisher based in Garland, Texas, established in 2008 as a spin-off of 3D Realms .- History :The original Apogee Software was established in 1987 as Apogee Software Ltd. In 1994, Apogee established its 3D Realms brand for publishing 3D video games distributed...
.
Grabbag has elicited many spin-offs and remixes over the years by both fans and professional musicians, including an officially sanctioned studio version by the popular thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
outfit Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
. Another version of the song was recorded by Chris Kline in August 2005. 3D Realms
3D Realms
3D Realms is a current video game publisher and former video game developer based in Garland, Texas, United States, established in 1987...
featured it on the front page of their website and contracted with Kline to use it to promote their Xbox
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
Live release of Duke Nukem 3D. Grabbag was brought back and used again as the theme song for the 2011 release of Duke Nukem Forever
Duke Nukem Forever
Duke Nukem Forever is a 2011 first-person shooter video game for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 developed by 3D Realms and Triptych Games and finished by Gearbox Software and Piranha Games...
.
Lee was one of the first people to qualify for full voting membership in National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
(the Grammy organization) based solely on works published with video games. He is also a member of the NARAS Producers & Engineers Wing.
Prior to his career with Apogee/3D Realms, Lee attended the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
from 1981-1983 as a Music Education major and was initiated into the Alpha Iota chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music...
in the fall of 1982. He was also a member of the flag section of the University of Texas Longhorn Band and played bassoon in the UT Wind Ensemble and Concert Band. He left the University in 1983 and went to work for the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
's Austin Service Center with his wife, Brenda, whom he had married the same year. The two had a son, Nathan, in 1986. Lee and Brenda both worked at the IRS until 1994, when Lee joined Apogee Software's technical support department. He was promoted to the Music and Sound Director position in 1996. His wife, Brenda, is still employed with the IRS, working at the agency's office in Dallas.
Lee currently works in the Irving offices of Total Traffic Networks (formerly Metro Networks
Metro Networks
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/files/2011/04/Metro_Logo_bigger.jpgMetro Networks is a broadcasting outsourcing company based in Houston, Texas. It was a subsidiary of Westwood One until its sale to Clear Channel Communications in 2011...
, now a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
) as a radio producer for both the Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and Austin areas. He also provides on-air traffic reports on the 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. overnight shift as the traffic anchor for 1080 KRLD (AM) in Dallas.
Lee was one of many former 3D Realms employees who worked on the long-delayed Duke Nukem Forever
Duke Nukem Forever
Duke Nukem Forever is a 2011 first-person shooter video game for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 developed by 3D Realms and Triptych Games and finished by Gearbox Software and Piranha Games...
and who attended the game's Happy Ending launch party held on June 11, 2011 at the Palladium Ballroom in Dallas , along with his wife and son. To put things into perspective, Lee's son Nathan was in 3rd Grade when development began on Duke Nukem Forever. Nathan is now nearing his graduation from the University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a public research university located in Arlington, Texas, United States. The campus is situated southwest of downtown Arlington, and is located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. The university was founded in 1895 and served primarily a military...
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Composition.
Games credited
- Duke Nukem ForeverDuke Nukem ForeverDuke Nukem Forever is a 2011 first-person shooter video game for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 developed by 3D Realms and Triptych Games and finished by Gearbox Software and Piranha Games...
- Duke Nukem AdvanceDuke Nukem AdvanceDuke Nukem Advance is a portable video game in the Duke Nukem series. Although it is a first-person shooter and many of the graphics and sounds have been ported from Duke Nukem 3D, the game has an original storyline and levels....
- Duke Nukem: Planet of the Babes
- Duke Nukem: Time to KillDuke Nukem: Time to KillDuke Nukem: Time To Kill is a third-person shooter video game for the PlayStation.-Gameplay:The gameplay and controls are very similar to those of Tomb Raider, a fact humorously referenced throughout the game...
- Duke Nukem: Zero HourDuke Nukem: Zero HourDuke Nukem: Zero Hour is a third-person shooter video game in the Duke Nukem series, developed by Eurocom for the Nintendo 64. The game uses a relatively large 32 megabyte cartridge and could also utilize the Expansion Pak to allow for better graphics but slowing down the frame rate...
- Duke Nukem 64
- Shadow WarriorShadow WarriorShadow Warrior, often known by its initials SW, is a first-person shooter computer game developed by 3D Realms and released on May 13, 1997 by GT Interactive. Shadow Warrior was developed using Ken Silverman's Build engine and improved on 3D Realms' previous Build engine game, Duke Nukem 3D...
- Balls of SteelBalls of Steel (computer game)Balls of Steel is a pinball computer game developed by Wildfire Studios and released on December 12, 1997. It is the only title to be published under the Pinball Wizards label, a division of Apogee Software ....
- StargunnerStargunnerStargunner is a horizontal scrolling shooter computer game developed by Apogee Software. It was released on November 19, 1996, and it has the distinction of being the last title sold under the Apogee brand name.-Overview:...
- Duke Nukem 3DDuke Nukem 3DDuke Nukem 3D is a first-person shooter computer game developed by 3D Realms and published by GT Interactive Software. The full version was released for the PC . It is a sequel to the platform games Duke Nukem and Duke Nukem II published by Apogee...
- Rise of the TriadRise of the TriadRise of the Triad: Dark War is a first-person shooter video game that was first released on February 17, 1995 and developed by Apogee Software . The members of the development team involved referred to themselves as "The Developers of Incredible Power"...