Showco Archives

Showco Archives Preserving the legacy of Showco, Dallas’ legendary concert sound company. Visit showcoarchives.com to explore the archive and shop for swag.

Sharing rare audio, memorabilia, crew stories, and firsthand memories from Showco alumni and those who were there. My name is Indigo, and my journey is one rooted in both personal history and a profound sense of responsibility to honor those who shaped the soundtracks of our lives. My father, Donnie (DK) Kretzschmar, was not only a visionary sound engineer for SHOWCO but also a survivor of the tra

gic Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash—a trauma that ultimately claimed him years later. His resilience, passion, and unwavering dedication inspired me, and it’s his legacy, along with the countless untold stories of SHOWCO’s pioneers, that compelled me to establish this heartfelt project: Showcoarchives.com and Showco Archives on social media. Showco Archives and Showco.co are labors of love, dedicated to safeguarding our shared history—the SHOWCO family, the engineers and roadies, the visionaries behind unforgettable concerts. My goal is to ensure that these stories, and the spirit of innovation they represent, live on for future generations who cherish the thrill of live music. Now, I ask for your help. Please join me in spreading the word so that SHOWCO’s immense impact receives the recognition it deserves from the City of Dallas and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. With your support, we can make sure these incredible people and their achievements are honored and remembered. Let’s work together to enshrine the legacy of SHOWCO—not just for those who came before, but for everyone who believes in the transformative power of live music. I Thank You

– Indigo Kretzschmar-May (DK’s little girl)

09/03/2026

One concert can change a life. 🎛️

On Oct. 30, 1981, Stephen Funke ran sound for local band Zimmeron as they opened for the Beach Boys and Commodores at Miami’s Orange Bowl—his first major show. The Showco crew got him started, then trusted him to do his job. Stephen says it profoundly shaped his career; he later spent 18 years as Cheap Trick’s monitor engineer.

Lead image: Beach Boys at the Queen Mary, a separate 1981 show. Were you on the Miami crew?

FACEBOOKSometimes one concert really can change the course of a life. 🎛️On October 30, 1981, Stephen Funke was the sound...
09/03/2026

FACEBOOK

Sometimes one concert really can change the course of a life. 🎛️

On October 30, 1981, Stephen Funke was the soundman for the local band Zimmeron when they opened for the Beach Boys and the Commodores at the Miami Orange Bowl.

It was Stephen’s first big concert. After he told the Showco crew, they helped him get started, made sure he was comfortable—and then stepped back and allowed him to do his job, learn and enjoy the experience.

“I will never forget that day, that show, that experience and how well the Showco crew treated me.”

Stephen says the experience profoundly shaped his life and career. He later spent 18 years as monitor engineer for Cheap Trick.

These pages from The Miami Hurricane, published the day of the concert, document the Beach Boys and Commodores appearance and the university’s Hurricane Howl festivities.

Stephen would still love to identify the Showco crew members who helped him that night. Were you at the Orange Bowl or part of the crew on October 30, 1981? Please comment or send me a message.

The Family Behind the Music™

Explore: https://www.showcoarchives.com/the-beach-boys-1980-1984

Source: The Miami Hurricane, October 30, 1981, pages 6 and 11.

09/03/2026

NEW FROM THE SHOWCO ARCHIVES 🎥

Genesis live at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas — August 13, 1982.

This complete archival concert recording comes from the collection of the late Showco alumnus Craig Schertz. Here’s a short preview—then head to my YouTube channel to experience the full show.

🎧 Watch the complete concert:
https://youtu.be/216wXSp5SwY

Preserving the sights and sounds of the family behind the music.

Genesis Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Phil Collins Tony Banks The Chester Thompson Trio

09/02/2026

🎙️ A LITTLE DALLAS RADIO HISTORY

While listening through a collection of vintage KZEW radio spots for Showco-related material, I heard an ad for the New Wave Review at Gertie’s featuring Barry Kooda’s band, The Nervebreakers.

Barry is a FOS—a Friend of Showco—so I thought I’d share this great piece of Dallas music history.

Barry Kooda and The Nervebreakers —what do you remember about Gertie’s and these shows?
-Indigo

🎧 Turn the sound on to hear the original KZEW spot.

50 YEARS AGO TODAY 🎛️On September 2, 1976, *The Daily Texan* reported that the Sunday Break II site at Steiner Ranch nea...
09/02/2026

50 YEARS AGO TODAY 🎛️

On September 2, 1976, *The Daily Texan* reported that the Sunday Break II site at Steiner Ranch near Austin was nearing completion—just three days before an estimated 75,000 people would arrive.

The article captures Showco’s work behind the scenes. The late Showco alumnus B.J. Schiller, sound technician for the concert, explained how five delay towers would distribute sound across the grounds:

“For every foot, we delay the sound to the towers about a millisecond, and this gives a uniform sound over the grounds.”

The report also names Showco’s Bill Thompson as lighting and sound coordinator, overseeing construction for the concert.

The lineup included The Band, Chicago, Fleetwood Mac, Steve Miller Band, Firefall, and England Dan & John Ford Coley.

Explore the 1975–1979 Showco Archives:
https://www.showcoarchives.com/1975-1979

Another piece of The Family Behind the Music™.

AUSTIN MUSIC EVENTS Chicago The Band: A History

09/02/2026

See you soon!

🤠 A little ZZ Top for today…I’ve spent the last couple of days adding a bunch of ZZ Top tour ephemera, itineraries and o...
09/01/2026

🤠 A little ZZ Top for today…

I’ve spent the last couple of days adding a bunch of ZZ Top tour ephemera, itineraries and other road material to the Showco Archives — particularly from the 1990s.

ZZ Top has a personal connection for me, too. A few years ago, thanks to Showco alum Johnny “JW” Roberts, my husband and I got backstage and had the chance to see Billy again. So today I’m sharing a few of those photos along with some ZZ Top autographs from the archive.

🎸 Explore the newly expanded ZZ Top 1990–1994 archive:
https://www.showcoarchives.com/zz-top-1990-1994?rq=ZZ%20TOP

🛒 From Showco Swag:
ZZ Top / The Kinks / T.C. Matic / The Blasters / Screaming Blue Messiahs — Ostend Airport Concert Pass:
https://shop.showcoarchives.com/products/zz-top-the-kinks-t-c-matic-the-blasters-screaming-blue-messiahs-ostend-airport-concert-pass

The Family Behind the Music™

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Dallas, TX

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