View source for Gene Clair

{{Short description|American audio engineer}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Walter Eugene '''Gene''' Clair
| image       =
| image_size  =
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1940|05|06}}
| birth_place = [[Lititz, Pennsylvania]]
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2013|12|03|1940|05|06|}}
| death_place = [[Lititz, Pennsylvania]]
| occupation  = Inventor, entrepreneur, audio engineer
| parents     = Roy B. Clair<br/>Ellen Mae (Ulrich) Clair
}}
'''Gene Clair''' (May 6, 1940 – December 3, 2013) was an American sound engineer who, along with his brother [[Roy Clair]], founded [[Clair Global|Clair Brothers Sound]] in 1966. The company was among the first to provide [[sound reinforcement]] equipment and personnel that toured with music performers.  Gene and his company were involved with many important innovations in sound reinforcement.  His company grew to be among the largest sound companies in the world.
== Early years==
Gene Clair was born in 1940 in the [[Lititz, Pennsylvania]] area.  Gene graduated from Warwick High School in 1958.  He was given awards for being one of the top athletes of his class.  He received a two-year degree in Engineering from [[Penn State York]].<ref name="LancasterOnline">{{cite web
|url=http://lancasteronline.com/obituaries/local/927242_Walter-Eugene--Gene--Clair.html
|title=Walter Eugene '''Gene''' Clair
|publisher=Lancaster Newspapers/LancasterOnline
|accessdate=2013-12-04
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211123938/http://lancasteronline.com/obituaries/local/927242_Walter-Eugene--Gene--Clair.html
|archivedate=December 11, 2013
}}</ref> He started working with sound in 1955 when his father bought him and his brother a small [[Public address system|PA system]].  In high school, college and afterward they started renting the PA out to bands, schools, and churches.  They also expanded it with new equipment.
== Birth of touring sound reinforcement ==
In 1966, they provided sound to  [[Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons]] at a local show.  Their road crew was so impressed by the Clair Brothers sound system, the Clair brothers were asked to bring their equipment and provide sound for the Frankie Valli tour.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/business/smallbusiness/28sbiz.html An Unlikely Haven for Rock ’n’ Roll Entrepreneurs]</ref>  Because of Clair Brothers success with Frankie Valli he was soon being hired to tour with Jefferson Airplane, Blood Sweat and Tears,  and Elvis among others.
== Growth of Clair Brothers ==
Gene along with his brother Roy presided over the growth of [[Clair Brothers]] during the 1970s and 1980s from a small company to one of the leading sound companies in the US. The Clair brothers evolved the company from using standard commercial sound products to designing and manufacturing much of their own equipment. Two notable products were the S4 4-way speaker system and their 12 AM stage monitor.<ref name="LancasterOnline"/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clair, Gene}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:American audio engineers]]
[[Category:Penn State College of Engineering alumni]]
[[Category:People from Lititz, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Engineers from Pennsylvania]]