Showco was a sound equipment provider of touring sound reinforcement equipment and services to the concert touring industry. It was based in

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

, United States. In 2000, Showco was acquired by

Clair Global Clair Global, or simply Clair, is a professional sound reinforcement and live touring production support company. It was founded by brothers Roy and Gene Clair, who went into business in 1966 after they were asked to bring their sound system on ...

. Showco was established in 1970 by Jack Maxson and Rusty Brutsche, and Jack Calmes, and is known for helping to pioneer post

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-era

stadium rock Arena rock (also known as stadium rock, pomp rock or corporate rock) is a style of rock music that became mainstream in the 1970s. It typically involves radio-friendly rock music that was designed to be played for large audiences. As hard rock ...

shows by providing state-of-the-art sound equipment for famous acts beginning with

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...

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and

James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Taylor achieved his breakthrough in 1970 with the single "Fi ...

. According to Brutsche: With Showco equipment and services, the star performers could count on reliable and consistent sound reproduction at different venues. Showco introduced such features as mixing gear and stage monitors to aid the musicians. The equipment was also built to handle rugged touring schedules, outdoor weather conditions and quick assembly and disassembly. Throughout the 1970's, Showco expanded its multi-discipline equipment and services to include

stage lighting Stage lighting is the craft of lighting as it applies to the production of theater, dance, opera, and other performance arts.

, set design and fabrication,

special effects Special effects (often abbreviated as F/X or simply FX) are illusions or visual tricks used in the theatre, film, television, video game, amusement park and simulator industries to simulate the fictional events in a story or virtual world. ...

/lasers and disco sound systems. Later forays into

stage lighting Stage lighting is the craft of lighting as it applies to the production of theater, dance, opera, and other performance arts.

led to the 1981 formation of sister company Vari-Lite, Inc. Showco was acquired by Clair Brothers in late 2000. Showco was merged into the touring arm of Clair Brothers. The combined division was then renamed ClairShowco. In 2008 the name was changed once again to Clair and given the corporate tagline "Global Service and Live Shows Since 1966."

Showco Clients

Showco has provided equipment and services throughout the world for an extensive list of artists' tours, festivals and events.

References

{{reflist

External links

Clair Brothers, Showco website

* ttps://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/rusty-brutsche Rusty Brutsche Interview – NAMM Oral History Library (2016) 1970 establishments in Texas American companies established in 1970 Electronics companies established in 1970 Electronics companies disestablished in 2000 Companies based in Dallas Privately held companies of the United States Defunct electronics companies of the United States Sound technology Sound systems Defunct companies based in Texas