MUSICIANS

Chris Manning has spent more than 35 years on both sides of the studio glass—as a musician, recording engineer, producer and mixer.

His professional career began as the original bassist for Jellyfish. Signed to Virgin/Charisma in the early ’90s, the band toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, including dates with The Black Crowes and an opening slot for INXS at Wembley Stadium.

Chris spent those years playing alongside his brother, Roger Joseph Manning Jr., making videos for MTV, discovering what life on the road was really like—and, on one particularly memorable occasion, eating strawberry cheesecake with Ringo Starr.

Legendary producer Albhy Galuten helped guide Chris toward the other side of the glass, and in 2026, Chris joined The Plant Studios in Sausalito. There he learned record-making from the inside out, working alongside legendary producers and engineers including Steve Lillywhite, Bob Rock and Jerry Harrison.

During those years, Chris contributed to records by Metallica, Third Eye Blind, Guster, Joe Satriani and others, including as engineer and Tape Op on Santana’s landmark Supernatural—one of the best-selling albums of all time and winner of nine GRAMMY Awards.

In 2000, Chris built Salamander Sound and began bringing everything he had learned—as a musician, engineer and record maker—into his own work as a producer and mixer.

Chris has a long history of helping emerging artists turn great songs into records that get noticed. Chris recorded the demos that helped Proteins land a deal with Sony Records and produced Thriving Ivory’s independent debut before the band signed with Wind-Up Records and “Angels on the Moon” reached a national audience. He has also produced, recorded and mixed artists including The Velvet Teen, Minipop, 20 Minute Loop and many others.

His work has taken him from independent Bay Area bands to major-label and international projects, including recording Luciano Ligabue’s #1, multi-platinum album Arrivederci, Mostro! in Italy.

Chris learned record-making in rooms with some of the best producers and engineers in the world, but over the years developed his own way of working: trust your ears, work fast, stay open to unexpected ideas, and do whatever the song needs.

Through all of it, Chris has remained a musician at heart. He knows what it feels like to stand on the artist’s side of the glass—and how much trust it takes to hand someone your music.

Today, at Salamander Sound, Chris works closely with artists who care deeply about what they’re making—producing, recording and mixing with one simple philosophy:

Songs first. Everything else serves the music.