Martin Luther “ML” Procise III

Martin Luther “ML” Procise III (June 21, 1952 – March 5, 2015) was one of the most respected and beloved figures in the world of live sound and touring production. Over the course of his remarkable career, ML mixed more than 4,500 concerts for artists including Genesis, Phil Collins, Earth, Wind & Fire, the Bee Gees, Michael Jackson & The Jackson 5, and ZZ Top — helping define the sound of arena touring during some of the most groundbreaking years in concert history.

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, ML developed an early passion for sound reinforcement as both a hobby and a calling. In late 1975, at just 23 years old, a friend working for SHOWCO invited him to Dallas to mix monitors for an upcoming Genesis tour. At the time, Genesis was ML’s favorite band, making the opportunity impossible to pass up. He quickly relocated to Texas and began rehearsals for Genesis’ A Trick of the Tail tour, launching what would become an extraordinary lifelong career in live sound. The first tour date took place in March 1976.

ML was also one of the original “Fort Wayne Boys” — the nickname Phil Collins, Genesis, and others affectionately used for the group of SHOWCO crew members and engineers from Fort Wayne, Indiana who became such an important part of their touring family through the years. Many of them also shared roots with the progressive rock group Ethos, the Indiana-based band whose members and crew would later become deeply connected to SHOWCO and the touring industry. The Ethos and SHOWCO connection became part of live sound lore, with the “Ft. Wayne Boys” earning a reputation for technical excellence, loyalty, musicianship, and camaraderie both onstage and behind the scenes.

Starting with SHOWCO in 1975, ML quickly earned a reputation for his technical skill, calm demeanor, and ability to handle massive productions with precision and professionalism. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he remained deeply involved in touring while also taking on increasing leadership responsibilities within the company, eventually serving as Senior Director of Touring and later Vice President of Sales. When Clair Brothers acquired SHOWCO in 2000, ML was named Executive Director of Touring, continuing to mentor crews and shape the future of live production for years afterward.

In 2014, ML’s decades of contributions to the touring industry were recognized with his induction into the Tour Link Top Dog Hall of Fame — an honor reflecting not only his professional accomplishments, but also the immense respect he earned throughout the live entertainment community.

But beyond the tours, artists, and titles, those who knew ML remember the person first. He was part of the extended SHOWCO family in every sense of the word. He and his wife, Deborah R. “Debby” Haley Procise, whom he married on Leap Day in 1980, built a life centered around family, friendship, and the road family that surrounded them. Together they raised four children: Raleigh, Luke, Parker, and Evan.

Sadly, Debby passed away from cancer in 2013, a devastating loss for ML and those close to the family. Less than two years later, ML himself passed away quietly in his sleep on March 5, 2015.

For me personally, ML was more than just a legendary SHOWCO alumnus. He and my father were close friends and colleagues, and some of my earliest memories of the SHOWCO family connect directly to ML and his family. In fact, my very first babysitting job was watching ML’s four children when I was around twelve years old — one of those memories that perfectly captures how deeply connected the SHOWCO world truly was beyond the arenas, trucks, and sound systems.

ML’s legacy lives on not only through the thousands of concerts he helped bring to life, but through the countless friendships, mentorships, and memories he created along the way. He represents the very best of the SHOWCO spirit: innovation, professionalism, loyalty, humility, and family.

If you have photos, stories, memorabilia, or memories involving ML Procise, please reach out — I would be honored to help preserve and share them here as part of the ongoing SHOWCO story.