In the mid 1960's, Brothers Roy and Gene Clair began experimenting with sound systems as a hobby in a garage in Lititz PA. This led to providing music for Lititz Community Center dances and other local events. In 1966 they were asked to provide sound for a Four Seasons concert at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster PA. The Jersey Boys were so impressed with the quality of the PA that they hired the Clair Brothers to go on tour with them. Soon Jefferson Airplane, Blood Sweat and Tears, Elvis and others followed in what would become a long list of the biggest touring artists in the world.

Also in the mid 1960's Rusty Brutsche and Jack Maxson worked as musicians and producers in Dallas, TX. Together they developed a sound system for Brutsche's band that gained a good reputation as a rental system for touring groups. Working out of a garage they founded SHOWCO in 1970 and soon were hired to tour with bands like Led Zeppelin, Three Dog Night, and James Taylor.

In the 1970's, there was a large increase in the demand for sound production, resulting in major growth for Clair Brothers and SHOWCO. As the two strongest rivals in the audio world they worked tirelessly to advance the art and science of sound reproduction to greater levels.

By the 1980's Clair Brothers and SHOWCO continuously vied for "Sound Company of the year", each striving to create innovations the other would have to match. Clair Brothers expanded into the Audio, Video and Lighting installation business with the addition of Audio Rent of Basel, Switzerland in 1987. SHOWCO developed into a full service lighting, sound, staging and logistics company and developed the Vari-Lite, the world's first automated variable color moving lighting system.

In the 1990's Clair Brothers expanded yet again with the addition of MD Systems of Nashville Tennessee. SHOWCO by that time had grown and became part of Vari-Lite international due to the enormous success of their patented lighting system.

In 2000, Clair Brothers and SHOWCO joined forces in what would become the best and largest sound reinforcement company in the world. With the addition of a Toronto location in 2006 and Chicago in 2007, the new company with affiliates around the globe, offered a range of service and support unparalleled in the industry.

In 2008, Clair brothers decided for the first time to make available many of their previously proprietary products (including the legendary Clair 12AM and SHOWCO SRM wedge monitors) available for sale. This means that you can now have the unrivalled quality of a Clair Brothers system installed in your venue.

www.clairsystems.com