Stan Doty has come a long way since his days studying industrial engineering at the University of Colorado.

“In 1977, I got a job as a stagehand working for the Grateful Dead through a friend,” Doty said. “After that, I was hooked. Being behind the scenes is a real thrill.”

Now 46, Doty has built an impressive resume doing sound for some of the biggest names in rock over the years.

The Otto’s Niteclub owner has worked with everyone from Ringo Starr and GWAR, to most recently, Guided By Voices and Wilco. He was recognized by the Chicago Tribune as the “dean of Chicago’s rock-club soundmen” and has been written about in the New York Times and the Boston Herald for his work as a soundman, which is a rare accolade in the profession.

Originally from Sycamore, Doty has paid his dues since his beginning days, doing sound at shows in DeKalb.

“When I went back home during a break from college, I got a part-time job fixing a boiler,” Doty explained. “Eventually, I became a maintenance man in machine shops during the day, and afterwards I did sound for shows at night. Then, I would go to work again in the morning after four hours of sleep in my car.”

Around 1983, Doty began doing more upscale shows in Chicago for performers such as Tony Bennett and Paul Anka.

“Doing the high-society thing gave me the cash flow to start the clubs,” Doty said.

After helping expand the Cubby Bear in Chicago to a premiere musical venue in 1988, he left to start the Empty Bottle in 1993.

“I didn’t want to do as many cover bands that were coming in with the Cubby Bear,” Doty said. “So we started the Empty Bottle from the beginning; we gutted the room. I helped guide them on sound and told them where certain rooms should be.”

Doty still likes to give back to the DeKalb area whenever possible. As well as hosting bigger acts such as Motörhead, George Clinton and Soul Asylum at Otto’s, Doty supplied the PA system for Cornfest from 1991-2001.

Having a local scene is important to Doty and he attempts to bring in as many aspiring bands as possible after he acquired Otto’s, 118 E. Lincoln Highway, in 2001.

“If you give a band a place to play, they remember you down the road,” he said. “DeKalb has a good indie scene right now and bands are always breaking up, but as they evolve into other bands, they remember the places they grew up playing.”

Doty excitedly spoke about his plans to “hit it hard” in the spring and bring big national acts to Otto’s, but when asked if he is able to divulge any names, he laughed and explained, “I can’t really talk about that now.”

Now currently on a month-long tour with the band Wilco, he received the honor to run the sound at its two sellout shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Aspiring promoters and sound engineers, take note:

“As you get into your career, be nice, be aggressive and multi-task,” Doty said. “Also, make sure to get involved with the concert committee. You can make a difference; I’ve seen it before.”