## David Bowie 1976 US Tour {{< MultiGalleryComponent galleries="1976-david-bowie-tour" >}} Showco provided the sound system and the lighting rig for the David Bowie 1976 US Tour. Buford Jones was the sound engineer and his Red Beard Interview provides a great description of his experiences mixing the sound and working with David Bowie on this tour. {{< StoryImage id="showco-supplemental-image-001-bowie-76" caption="Showco sound and lighting equipment for David Bowie 1976 US Tour. The sound on this show is rigged using the second generation McManus platforms with chain motors." credit="Photo Jack Maxson" size="large" >}}

{{< StoryImage id="showco-supplemental-image-003-bowie-76" caption="Buford Jones mixing David Bowie 1976 US Tour." credit="Photo Jack Maxson" size="responsive" >}} {{< StoryImage id="showco-supplemental-image-007-bowie-76" caption="Showco lighting rig David Bowie 1976 US Tour." credit="Photo Jack Maxson" size="responsive" >}}

{{< StoryImage id="showco-supplemental-image-016-bowie-76" caption="David Bowie 1976 US Tour." credit="Photo Jack Maxson" size="large" >}} ## Sunshine Jam Lynyrd Skynyrd & Marshall Tucker 1976 {{< MultiGalleryComponent galleries="1976-sunshine-jam" >}} Showco provided the sound and lighting for the Sunshine Jam, an outdoor show at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida on July 10, 1976 featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, Charlie Daniels Band, The Outlaws, Jerry Jeff Walker and 38 Special. The show was a benefit concert for Jimmy Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign.

{{< StoryImage id="showco-1976-sunshine-jam-002-sunshine-jam-76" caption="Sunshine Jam 1976 with Showco Sound and Lighting." credit="Showco Recovered Archive" size="responsive" >}} {{< StoryImage id="showco-1976-sunshine-jam-008-sunshine-jam-76" caption="Lynyrd Skynyrd at Sunshine Jam 1976." credit="Showco Recovered Archive" size="responsive" >}}

## Mary Kay Convention 1976 {{< MultiGalleryComponent galleries="21-mary-kay-sep-1976-bw" >}} In 1976 we were hired by Mary Kay Cosmetics in Dallas to provide the sound, lighting, stage sets and laser effects for the 1976 Mary Kay convention. The convention was an annual affair where all of the Mary Kay sales consultants, about 10,000 attendees, would come to Dallas for a week of meetings and a big award ceremony where Mary Kay herself would give out diamond rings, mink coats and free pink Cadillacs to the top sales consultants, all of whom were women. Mary Kay came to Showco because they had heard about our laser effects. This began a multi decade relationship with Showco where we would produce the convention each year in January which was great for us because the touring business was slow in the winter.

{{< StoryImage id="showco-21-mary-kay-sep-1976-bw-024-mary-kay-76" caption="Ron Fox designing the set for the 1976 Mary Kay convention. Ron also designed the set for the 1980 Commodores with Lionel Richie tour." credit="Photo Jim Bornhorst" size="responsive" >}} {{< StoryImage id="showco-21-mary-kay-sep-1976-bw-022-mary-kay-76" caption="Showco Lasers for 1976 Mary Kay Convention." credit="Photo Jim Bornhorst" size="responsive" >}}

{{< StoryImage id="showco-21-mary-kay-sep-1976-bw-018-mary-kay-76" caption="Set for 1976 Mary Kay Convention Under Construction in Showco Woodshop." credit="Photo Jim Bornhorst" size="large" >}} ## Austin Music Festival 1976 {{< MultiGalleryComponent galleries="22-ausatin-music-festival-sep-1976" >}} We provided the sound for the Austin Music Festival, named Sunday Break I and II that was held on May 2 and November 5, 1976.

{{< StoryImage id="showco-22-austin-music-festival-sep-022-austin-festival-76" caption="Showco Sound System Austin Music Festival Sunday Break I May 2, 1976." credit="Photo Jim Bornhorst" size="responsive" >}} {{< StoryImage id="showco-22-austin-music-festival-sep-014-austin-festival-76" caption="Showco sound engineer John Blasutta at the Superboard for Austin Music Festival Sunday Break I May 2, 1976." credit="Photo Jim Bornhorst" size="responsive" >}}