Showco was a sound equipment provider of touring sound reinforcement equipment and services to the concert touring industry. It was based in Dallas, Texas, United States. In 2000, Showco was acquired by Clair Global.
Showco was established in 1970 by Jack Maxson and Rusty Brutsche, and Jack Calmes, and is known for helping to pioneer post Woodstock-era stadium rock shows by providing state-of-the-art sound equipment for famous acts beginning with Led Zeppelin, Three Dog Night and James Taylor. 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, set design and fabrication, special effects/lasers and disco sound systems. Later forays into stage lighting 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.Current, mixonline.com 1 January 2001. 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."ClairShowco Rebranded As Clair, www.prosoundnetwork.com 17 September 2008.
Showco Clients Showco has provided equipment and services throughout the world for an extensive list of artists' tours, festivals and events.
+ Showco Artists and Events Aerosmith Al Jarreau Alan Jackson Alanis Morissette Alice Cooper Alice in Chains Allman Brothers Alvin Lee Anita Baker Art Garfunkel Average White Band B. B. King Bad Company Badfinger Barbara Mandrell Barry White Beastie Boys Beck, Bogert & Appice Bee Gees Ben Vereen Billy Bob's Texas Billy Preston Billy Thorpe Black Oak Arkansas Black Sabbath Blockbuster RockFest Blood, Sweat & Tears Bloodrock Bob Seger Bon Jovi Bonnie Bramlett Boston Bread Britney Spears Brooks & Dunn Brothers Johnson Buddy Miles Burton Cummings Cactus Carole King Cat Stevens CBS Records Conventions Chaka Khan Charlie Daniels Band Chicago Christina Aguilera Claire Hamill Climax Blues Band Clint Black Club MTV Tour Commodores Concert 10 Cornelius Brothers Counting Crows Crazy Horse Culture Club Dave Mason David Bowie David Cassidy Deep Purple Diana Ross Dionne Warwick Dixie Chicks Don Henley Doobie Brothers Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show Dr. John Eagles Earth, Wind & Fire Edgar Winter Edie Brickell & New Bohemians Electric Light Orchestra Elton John Elvin Bishop Elvis Presley England Dan & John Ford Coley Eric Burdon Eric Clapton Extreme Faces Farm Aid Firefall Fleetwood Mac Flo & Eddie Frank Zappa Freddie King Fruit of the Loom CountryFests Garbage Genesis George Benson George Michael George Strait Ginger Baker Glen Campbell Golden Earring Grand Funk Railroad Green Day Guns N' Roses Hall & Oates Havana Jam Humble Pie In Performance at the White House INXS Iggy Pop It's a Beautiful Day J. J. Cale Jackson Browne James Gang James Taylor Janet Jackson Jeff Beck Jefferson Airplane Jerry Jeff Walker Jesus Christ Superstar Jim Stafford Joe Cocker Joe Walsh John Fogerty John Mayall John McLaughlin John Waite Johnny Winter Judas Priest Julian Lennon Karla Bonoff KC and the Sunshine Band Kiki Dee KISS Kansas Knebworth Festival Kool & the Gang Korn Krokus Lake Laurie Anderson Led Zeppelin Lee Michaels Leo Kottke Leon Russell Leon Spinks vs. Muhammad Ali II Levon Helm Limp Bizkit Linda Ronstadt Little Feat Live Loggins & Messina Luther Vandross Lynyrd Skynyrd Mahavishnu Orchestra Mar y Sol Pop Festival Maria Muldaur Mariah Carey Marshall Tucker Band Marvin Gaye Mary Kay Conventions Matchbox Twenty Meat Loaf Megadeth Michael Martin Murphy Mick Jagger Mike and the Mechanics Mothers of Invention Mountain Musicians United for Safe Energy Conventions NSYNC Nazareth New Grass Revival Ozark Music Festival Ozzfest Ozzy Osbourne Pantera Parliament Funkadelic Paul McCartney Pete Townshend Peter Frampton Peter Gabriel Phil Collins Phoebe Snow Pope John Paul II Prince Procol Harum Puff Daddy Quiet Riot Rare Earth Reba McEntire REO Speedwagon Richard Pryor Richie Havens Rick James Ritchie Blackmore Robert Palmer Robert Plant Robin Trower Rock in Rio Rod Stewart Roger Daltrey Rossington Collins Band Rufus Sammy Hagar Santana Scandal Seal Shawn Phillips Sheena Easton Slayer Soundgarden Spiro Agnew Staind Steely Dan Stephen Stills Steppenwolf Steve Miller Band Steve Winwood Steven Stills Stevie Ray Vaughan Stevie Wonder Stone Temple Pilots Sugar Ray Sunday Break II Suzi Quatro T. Rex Tanya Tucker Ted Nugent Ten Years After The Band The Beach Boys The Black Crowes The Blues Brothers The Carpenters The Clash The Dudek-Finnegan-Krueger Band The Firm The Gap Band The Groundhogs The Guess Who The Highwaymen The J. Geils Band The Jackson Five The Jam The Kinks The Moody Blues The New Barbarians The O'Jays The Osmonds The Rolling Stones The Smashing Pumpkins The Who Thin Lizzy Third Eye Blind Three Dog Night Todd Rundgren Tomita Torvill and Dean Toto Uriah Heep US Festival Van Halen Van Morrison Vina del Mar International Song Festival Vince Gill War Waylon Jennings Weather Report West, Bruce & Laing Willie Nelson Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnics and Dripping Springs Reunion Wings Wishbone Ash Wynonna Judd Yoko Ono ZZ Top
References
External links Clair Brothers, Showco website The Showco PA provided for The Who's 1975–1976 tour Rusty Brutsche Interview – NAMM Oral History Library (2016)