A Laserist's Biography
LASER SPECTACLES, INC:
That Man Behind the Curtain

A Short Bio of Laserist Timothy J. Walsh...

While majoring in music composition at the University of North Texas In Denton, Tim Walsh realized that the eye could perceive visual movement in a musical way, and he began creating films and videos that visually represented musical rhythms and integrating them with his compositions. After seeing the first Laserium laser light show in New York, Walsh became interested in using lasers to make this "visual music." Back at UNT, he started working with lasers artistically, eventually becoming the holography laboratory instructor.

Walsh was selected as Laserist for Laser Creations, Inc., and began touring the U.S. with a laser light show, ending up at the Noble Planetarium in the Fort Worth Museum of Natural History before returning to UNT to finish his music composition degree. For the next two years, he served as Head Accompanist for the UNT Department of Dance; this experience accompanying classes and performances on percussion and piano strengthened his ability to combine movement and sound. During this period, Walsh toured with the Dance Theater of the Southwest as Lighting Designer, Stage Manager, and Resident Composer, in addition to maintaining production of laser light shows.

In 1979, Walsh co-founded Brave Combo, a four piece group dedicated to performing dance music from around the world. During the five years he played woodwinds with Brave Combo, he traveled throughout the country performing in venues ranging from tiny punk clubs to giant polka festivals. He produced five records and a cassette recording with the band, and the group was honored by the Texas Music Awards.

Walsh continued to create laser light shows during this time and, in 1983, he accepted the position of Laserist with the Burke Baker Planetarium at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. For the next two years, he originated shows with musical accompaniment varying from classical to popular to rock. In 1985, Walsh formed his own laser light show company, Laser Spectacles, Inc., based in San Marcos, Texas. Engagement highlights include performances with Doc Severinsen and the Phoenix Symphony, the Puerto Rico and Fort Worth Symphonies plus many others, several years with the Brazos Nights Festival in Waco, a number of other festivals, such as the PIano International Festival, the Spring Creek Festival, the Festival de Sinaloa in Mexico, and the State of Tampico Festival In Mexico, a tour of Uzbekistan, a tour of the Middle East; and innumerable other events.

Laser Spectacles, Inc. is one of the founding members of ILDA (the International Laser Display Association), and Timothy Walsh has served as Chairman of the ILDA Awards Committee, organizing the annual ILDA Awards for Outstanding Laser Display. Since 1994, Walsh and Laser Spectacles have consistently won awards in the ILDA competition. Other awards include the International Festival Association's Gold Award for Best New Event, in collaboration with the City of Waco, Texas and Pangolin Laser Software. Laser Spectacles received "Best Laser Show"' awards at the Lighting Dimensions International 94 and 95 exhibitions.

Since 1996 Walsh has designed and built his own unique laser projection system, and has worked to find the limits of his machine. His current projects include direct creation of laser synaesthesia from the Lasergraph DSP, resulting in two ILDA Awards in 2002, and preparing his 3D laser show The Amazing Crystal Laser Voyage to go on the road.

Walsh's goal is and has always been to achieve laser synaesthesia, an experience in which the laser light is so perfectly meshed with the sound accompaniment that the audience is able to see what they hear. Tim is glad to report that achieving this goal is looking and sounding very good indeed!

  • 1972 - 1977- University of North Texas Bachelor's In Music Composition


  • 1977- Laserist - Laser Creations, Inc., Denton, TX


  • 1977- 1979- Lighting Designer, Stage Manager, and Composer with Dance Theater of the Southwest, Denton, TX


  • 1979 - 1984 - Saxophonist and Clarinetist with Brave Combo, Denton, TX


  • 1983 - 1985 - Laserist, Laser Creations, Inc., at the Houston Museum of Natural Science


  • 1985 - President, Laser Spectacles, Inc., San Marcos, TX

Back to our website

Laser Spectacles, Inc.
San Marcos, Texas
tel 512.392.4600
fax 512.392.4601
contact@laserspectacles.com