Clair Bros. Founder Dies

Walter Eugene “Gene” Clair, who with brother Roy co-founded Clair Bros. Audio Systems, died in his sleep early Dec. 3 at age 73.

While earning a two-year engineering degree from Penn State’s York campus, he and Roy got their first gig setting up sound for a campus appearance by The Four Seasons, who asked them to join their tour.

Gene continued to engineer sound for artists including Elton John, the Moody Blues, Michael Jackson, Peter Wolf and grew Clair Bros. – now simply Clair – into a global leader, winning international recognition including numerous Pollstar Awards for Sound Company of the Year.

Clair sold his share of the company to his son Troy in 1995.

Memorial service arrangements are pending.