Bruce Jones
FOH Sound Engineer | Systems Engineer | 1982–1994
Bruce Jones built a long career in live sound by moving comfortably between front-of-house mixing, systems engineering, and the practical work of making a touring production sound right night after night.
He joined Showco in 1982 and remained with the company through 1994, working on a remarkable range of productions. His documented credits include David Bowie, The Kinks, Rick James, Aerosmith, The Clash, R.E.M., Robert Palmer, Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Willie Nelson, The Highwaymen, Deep Purple, Patty Smyth, New Edition, Scandal, Saga, and others.
SHOWCO CAREER
Years: 1982–1994
Roles: FOH Sound Engineer; Systems Engineer
Bruce’s surviving work history documents systems and front-of-house assignments throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. Among the tours and productions associated with his Showco years are David Bowie, The Kinks, Rick James, The Gap Band, Scandal, Saga, Aerosmith, The Clash, Willie Nelson, R.E.M., Patty Smyth, New Edition, Robert Palmer, Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Deep Purple, The Highwaymen, and Santana’s work with Wayne Shorter.
His work required both technical precision and adaptability—moving between the mix position, system deployment, sound checks, and the constant problem-solving demanded by large touring productions.
A CAREER BEYOND SHOWCO
Bruce continued working in live sound and production long after his Showco years. His later career included FOH and production work with Santana, Rick James, Ted Nugent, Joe Cocker, Counting Crows, P!NK, Huey Lewis & The News, Tab Benoit, and the Tallahassee Symphony.
His later work also included house sound for Tallahassee civic-center events, FSU basketball, symphony performances, and a Tallahassee Symphony livestream in 2020. His résumé lists Counting Crows FOH work as recently as 2021.
EARLIER YEARS
Before joining Showco, Bruce worked in local and regional music, including Brothers Music Hall and area club bands. His earlier credits include Hotel, Ray Price, Brand Brothers, Hutch & Brand, Brand & Langston, Madonna & Brand Brothers, Duck, Tallahassee Band, Rainbow Band, and ELI.
His broader work history also includes Toto, Harry Chapin, Ronnie Montrose, John Kay of Steppenwolf, Johnny Paycheck, The Babys, Amazing Rhythm Aces, Tom Johnson of the Doobie Brothers, John Prine, Chick Corea, Hank Williams Jr., Lucinda Williams, Robert Cray, Cracker, Bob Weir and RatDog, Cheech & Chong, Arlo Guthrie, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Patti Smith, Wet Willie, Talking Heads, Devo, Elvis Costello, The Ramones, The Police, Pat Benatar, Dire Straits, Gregg Allman, Warren Zevon, the Joe Perry Project, George Thorogood, The Romantics, Sea Level, Dixie Dregs, and Atlanta Rhythm Section.
TELEVISION AND AUDIO INDUSTRY WORK
Bruce’s résumé also records sound work connected to The Tonight Show, David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, Top of the Pops, Pepsi Smash, Arsenio Hall, Good Morning America, The Today Show, music-award programs, and television specials.
His published work and professional credits appeared in or alongside Pro Sound News, Mix Magazine, Performing Musician, Sound Pro Live, Rolling Stone, Live Sound International, and newsletters from professional audio companies including AKG, Shure, and Harman Professional. His résumé also notes microphone and plug-in endorsements connected with AKG, Shure, Waves, and Crane Song.
FROM THE ROAD
Bruce’s archive preserves the working life behind these credits: tour itineraries, production documents, FOH photographs, sound-check images, production-office photographs, equipment-related material, and photographs from the road.
Among the surviving materials are itineraries connected to Scandal, Aerosmith, The Smiths, Willie Nelson, Farm Aid, R.E.M., Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Palmer, and Rick James and the Mary Jane Girls. The collection also includes a Showco FOH case, a Showco shirt quilt, a Shure microphone promotional photograph with Robert Palmer, and images from Santana, R.E.M., Scandal, Counting Crows, and other tours.
These pieces bring Bruce’s career back to the level where it happened—in front of the console, around the cases, and inside the long days and nights of touring.
BRUCE JONES CLOSET
Bruce’s surviving tour materials and memorabilia are also available through the Bruce Jones Closet in the SHOWCO Archives Swag Shop.
💬 Add to the Story
Did you work with Bruce? Tour together? Share a memorable experience? Recognize yourself or someone else in a photo?
I’d love to hear your memories, stories, corrections, or additional information. Your contributions help preserve The Family Behind the Music.
Every memory shared here helps make the Showco Archives more complete for future generations.