Pro Lighting

David “Ranger” Adams was playing drums in his high school marching band when he realized they had a need for better lighting. With peach cans he created a system that worked so well he was asked to help run the lights for the school’s drama club performances. He enjoyed the process of helping the audience better see the performers and realized this was an issue outside of the school setting as well. Ranger began purchasing equipment and even making his own as the need increased for professional lights in clubs and theaters. Over the years he has served as a roadie, assistant stage

Dennis Anderson always had a great deal of respect for his uncle, Joe Shaffner. Joe pioneered several processes and policies used today in Live Sound touring. Covering several Motown acts on the road, Joe ushered in a new era using the latest technology in light and sound. It was Uncle Joe who gave Dennis his start in the music business, first with a gig at Detroit’s 20 Grand Club working lights and later providing lights for The O’Jays' Ship Ahoy tour. While working on Prince’s Purple Rain tour, Dennis noticed Sheila E. needed a drum tech and without even being asked, he stepped

Roy Bickel joined the circus as a teenager and at one point held the record for traveling the longest distance after being shot out of a cannon.  One day he was asked if he wanted to make a little extra money helping with the rigging of the sound system –and Roy soon found his career!  He rigged the Disney stage shows beginning in the 1960s and later rigged rock concerts (big and bigger) all around the world.

Marshall Bissett found his way into the music industry by way of the British theater scene. With the dream of working backstage in theater, Marshall transformed that dream into a successful career in concert touring starting in the 1970s. Having the music industry setting a priority of selling more seats and more dates as compared to theater, Marshall found that the advancements in technology far surpassed that of the theater industry. Working alongside acts like Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Wings, and Bob Dylan, Marshall takes his experience with him as he c

Jim Bornhorst was hired by Rusty Brutsche, the founder of Showco, to assist with the development of sound systems.  In just a short time, Jim proved he was able to design systems as well as create company-owned products that would give Showco a leg up on the competition.  Jim gratefully enjoyed the pro audio business and helped set standards within the industry still used today.  Then one day, Rusty asked if Jim could head a team to design a new way of changing gels for concert lighting.  The results of that effort was the revolutionary moving lighting system later named Vari-lite

Emily Bornt discovered her love for music and theater early, starting with the recorder before moving to saxophone and guitar in her school’s jazz and marching bands. In middle school, a small acting role sparked a deeper interest—not onstage, but behind the scenes. She quickly gravitated toward costumes and stage management, setting the stage for a future in theatrical design. That passion deepened in high school through an internship with the New York State Theater Institute and later expanded in college, where she took on technical roles in professional productions.

Ernie Briefel played a tremendous role in the wholesaling of musical instruments in New York City, beginning in the 1950s. His understanding of the business and close partnerships resulted in creative innovations, the establishment of brands, the growth of markets and accessibility to in-demand instruments. While interviewing Ernie, it was clear that the friendships he developed along the way were truly a key factor not only in his success but also in the enjoyment he found within the music products industry over his long career.  

Rusty Brutsche and two friends formed the famous pro audio rental company Showco with the simple mission to produce good sounding concerts.  The goal required the building and maintenance of cutting edge and often innovative gear such as boards, pre-amps and lights.  Their Varilight system became a very successful product as it revolutionized concert lighting with motors that moved the lights and changed colors instantaneously.  In addition to the gear, Rusty and his staff went on the road to mix front of house for bands all across the country.  For example, Rusty mixed Led Zeppel

Steve Castro has toured backline for over 25 years and loves it.  Steve is a roadie’s roadie who has witnessed firsthand many of the major changes in technology that have affected live performances.  Steve has served as guitar, drum and keyboard tech for such acts as Sugarland, Lady Antebellum, Sheryl Crow and Jon Bon Jovi.  His classic roadie mentality is summed up when he said, “whenever I am home I keep worrying that I need to be someplace else, like Boston or Cleveland or Houston or Santa Ana.”

Harold Cohen's name can be heard spoken by Chip Monck during the Woodstock film. After the Sha Na Na performance on Sunday evening and just before Jimi Hendrix appears on stage, Chip says softly in the microphone, "Turn it up Harold." And so Harold turned the controls on the sound system way up to accommodate the legendary artist on what would become an epic performance. Harold worked for Terry Hanley and other sound companies over the years and was key in providing mixes for a number of iconic performers, even working the sound at the White House.

Sylvia Cunliffe was working for the City of Los Angeles when she created and produced a series of large public events that brought music to millions over the years.  The Los Angeles Street Scene and Country Scene were among her most notable events, which provided over a dozen stages that showcased big name artists to un-knowns who performed everything from jazz and rock to country and classical.  The success of her events paved the way for many other similar events, all of which offered the latest in audio and staging gear.

Joshua Curlett was enlisted as a stage hand for his church when he was a kid. That experience led him to pay close attention to the inner workings of stages and live performances. While in college he promoted many concerts and soon opened his own consulting firm. One of his customers was SoundPro located in Irving, Texas. The company was established by Charles Kitch in 1973 as Sound Production Inc. and was assisted in its growth and development by the late Jeff Humphrey. Joshua officially joined the team in 2010 and became the CEO. The original goals of the company created by Mr.

Dana Daniel played drums for his father’s big band when he was young. Being exposed to not just the musical side of performances from a young age, Dana became interested in the production side of performances. He became a pro lighting director for artists such as Charlie Daniels and Tom Petty and later for the Civic Center in Pensacola, Florida. For a time he worked in pro audio and pro lighting sales at Harris Music, which when it closed became the building Blues Angel Music moved into.

Chuck Davies is the founder of American DJ, which provides a long list of innovative products, many of which Chuck designed and engineered. He opened his own audio store in 1979 selling Hi-Fi equipment, which has since branched out to include six locations in Southern California. By 1982, it was clear to Chuck that he could provide the type of speakers his customers were requesting. He was among the first industry leaders to travel to China and form relationships with manufacturers in building new products, which soon included effects lighting and professional audio. 

DJ Ken Heath grew up in a very musical family and was always encouraged to follow his passion for music. His mother and uncles performed on the radio over the years and Ken dreamed of performing for others. While developing his career as a DJ, Ken endorsed a number of products such as speakers and pro lighting, which gave him a front-row seat to the developing technologies that have been a key element to the craft of spinning records. Over the years Ken proudly has become friends with several of his musical heroes including studio drummer Hal Blaine.

Tana Douglas wrote a book about her life in Live Sound, released in 2022, entitled LOUD: A life in rock n’ roll by the world’s first female roadie. The title leaves out the fact that she is so much more than a roadie, having built her career from the bottom to the top and becoming a leading expert on Pro Lighting for Live Sound events and having worked with the likes of The Who, Blood Sweat & Tears, Elton John and Ozzie Osbourne among many others. She pioneered techniques in lighting and her ideas for improving the way lighting is installed, used and maintained has inspired se

Dan Dugan is a pro lighting and pro audio engineer who invented an automixer that he first presented at AES in 1974. With a rich background in theater, both in lighting and sound, Dan created several automations that improved the quality and efficiency of production processes. His innovations were used in many products including Yamaha’s Dugan MY-16 card, and he was awarded an Emmy for technology in 2020. While working for theaters in San Francisco in 1968, the now commonly known title of sound designer was first used to describe the work Dan was doing.

Olivia Dvorak is a gifted and heartfelt singer-songwriter whose distinctive sound, poetic lyricism, and intricate guitar work have set her apart in the country and bluegrass music scene. A multiple RAMI Award winner, Olivia has been recognized as Artist of the Year, Country/Bluegrass Performer, and Song of the Year, solidifying her place as a rising force in Americana music. She has had the extraordinary honor of sharing the stage with country legends and hitmakers, including Loretta Lynn, Trace Adkins, Scotty McCreery, Jana Kramer, Mo Pitney, Fran Cosmo (formerly of Boston), Nitt

Phil Ealy is an award-winning lighting designer who established West Coast Concert Lighting in the late 70’s. Having designed the lighting rigs for several large rock tours, Phil became known for his attention to every detail with focus on smooth eloquent color transitions and flash and bang effects when needed. Phil toured with an impressive list of rock bands including Guns N’ Roses, Ratt, Motley Crew, Van Halen and more recently with country star Kenny Chesney. Phil has been nominated three times for the CMA Touring Awards and presented the Lighting Director of the Year for bot

Tom Field is the founder of TFA (Tom Field Associates) whose team provided lighting for a host of iconic live events such as Woodstock and the Newport Jazz Festival. In addition to the many innovative processes he created that have become standard in pro lighting, Tom has hired a long list of professionals who have gone on to make their own unique mark in the industry. One such notable individual was Rick O'Brien, who would earn the nickname "Parnelli" and, after his untimely death, became the namesake to the annual Parnelli Awards, which celebrates contributions to the live sound

Imero Fiorentino was considered by many the father of pro-lighting! He began his career just as television was coming into its own in the early 1950s. He worked on live broadcast with new cameras that were not tested with many light sources, causing more than a few issues to correct. Many of the processes that Immie created to address those issues have become standard methods for professional lighting today. He also created standards for lighting music venues such as concert stages and within theaters. The only list as impressive as those he worked with over the years may be the l

Randy "Baja" Fletcher was a well respected production manager of live events who won the 2010 Parnelli Life Time Achievement Award for his dedication to the industry.  His long and passionate career included work with ZZ Top, Randy Travis and the entire touring career of Brooks & Dunn!  Baja's creativity and innovative spirit inspired many within the industry as he pushed the envelope regarding staging, lighting, sound and shipping.  In addition, Baja is credited for several innovations within the industry regarding load-in all the way to wiring boards and speakers. He died af

Gary Gand grew up playing music and developed a passion for musical instruments. In 1971, he parlayed this passion into a successful career in music retail. Gand Music and Sound, located in Northfield, Illinois, was among the first stores in the country to carry pro audio and lighting equipment. Since then, the company, which is co-owned by his wife Joan, is an umbrella for Gand Concert Sound, GSI: Gand Studio Installation, and Gand Backline Services, and has been on the pioneering side of product introductions and marketing campaigns.

Paul Garcia along with his brother Fred and sister Lucy formed a group called The Garcia’s. Since they all sang and played from an early age, and were always encouraged by their father, it was natural for them to harmonize together. Paul’s passion for music further developed while playing in school bands, his brother’s bands and a group called The Scoundrels, which backed up the Sandpipers on Broadway in New York City. For a time he worked at Haley’s Lighting Sound before meeting Ron Harris who owned a music store in Pensacola. Paul managed Harris Music for a decade before working

David Garretson is a special representative for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which represents motion picture technicians, artists and allied crafts of the United States and Canada. As a union leader, David has overseen the creation of several initiatives that have benefited stage hands and roadies for years. He began his career lighting dance recitals and worked his way up to working for the Chicago ballet and regional theater in the mid 1970s.

Sarah Glew began her career in the music industry by selling records in a small store just south of San Francisco in Pacifica, California.  Over time she added musical instruments and found that guitars were a great seller in the heyday of the Beatles and the British Rock Invasion.   As the store grew, Sarah continued to look for new products she could carry and as a result pioneered many new products as well as supporting some fades over the years such as selling tape recorders in the mid-1960s.  The store also expanded into band instruments as well as sheet music.  Sarah provide

John Goldsmith is the owner of Kosmic Music, a retail store in the western Australian city of Perth. He began repairing amps and loud speakers, which led to his involvement with backline gear for concerts. His first company provided the sound for the Rolling Stone's 1973 concert at the Perth Cricket Grounds. John formed Kosmic Music to offer a line of pro audio gear to all levels of musicians. John also witnessed the growth and development of the pro lighting industry within Australia and helped pioneer several brands along the way.

William Groener has had an extensive career in lighting and theater design. He started out as a theater major at UC Santa Barbara and returned to the university as a professor before becoming Product Manager for Strand Lighting in Orange County. William has also been active as an instructor for ESTA. He served as president for six years and worked long and hard with industry standards, especially those related to safety. He was among the trainers providing sessions at the 2018 NAMM Show in Anaheim, the first of its kind that brought ESTA to NAMM!

Les Harrison is the president of Hollywood Sound Systems in Hollywood, California.  The company provides sound system and designs both to purchase and to rent and has been an innovator in the field since 1960.  The company has provided systems for recording studios, the film industry and for television as well as live events.  Along the way, Les became a collector and an expert on microphones.  His knowledge and collection have been used for several movies and TV programs over the years and a who’s who of musicians!  His passion and love for the industry may be the only things tha

James “Peaches” Hergen has always known that he would have a career in lighting. He remembers at a young age going to roller rinks with his family and would get lost in admiring the lights. The passion exploded when his parents got him a DJ light for Christmas and James was set on his journey. He continued studying and working with lights in high school and college and went on to get a job working for Six Flags. This job allowed him to work on professional gear that he wasn’t used to and ultimately trained him for the next step in his career. After Six Flags, James went on to work

Keith Holzman cut his teeth as a theater director and lighting designer in New York. In 1964 he joined Elektra Records, which his brother Jac formed back in 1950. Keith coordinated production of all the label’s releases and later ran Elektra’s spin-off classical label, Nonesuch. The label released albums by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and soprano Teresa Stratas, as well as music based on emerging electronic instruments such as the Moog and Buchla synthesizers. These include “Silver Apples of the Moon” by Morton Subotnick in 1967, and the “Nonesuch Guide to Electronic Music”

Bruce Howze is the founder of Community Professional Loudspeakers, which he established in 1968 after being asked to provide sound for such venues as the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. Bruce designed the first midrange sound system and later toured with rock and roll bands to test out his loudspeakers. The company produced some iconic products during the MI boom of the 1970s and 80s, such as their NC12 and CSX lines.  Later they would focus on the installation market with indoor/outdoor loudspeakers like the R SERIES and I SERIES families.  Bruce remains active in the company t