High End Systems

Lighting and control system company High End Systems is an Austin, Texas-based manufacturer of entertainment lighting and control systems. The company was founded, owned, and managed by Lowell Fowler, Richard Belliveau, David Blair, and Bob Schacherl before it was bought by Belgium-based Barco in 2008. Early history Blackstone Audio Visual was founded by Lowell Fowler with his wife Sue. When Lowell Fowler began Blackstone Audio Visual, their main focus was installing more advanced lighting equipment in nightclubs. Blackstone Audio Visual moved offices from central to north Austin in the mid 1980s. David Blair and Bob Schacherl, one of the companies original employees, both joined the ranks of partnership. The three partners installed Pulsar, Clay Paky, Coemar, Optikinetics, JEM, and other European brands that were difficult to find in North America. At the same time, Belliveau began designing and building loudspeakers for nightclubs and discothèques. Blackstone Audio Visual specialized in installing high end audio, video, and lighting systems in nightclubs all over the United States. Belliveau, unsatisfied with the design of many of the products they were selling, chose to design