Bob Gordon

Bio:

Bob began his career in the mid-1960s at Florida State University’s Wescott Auditorium, quickly mastering every technical role from spotlight operator to rigger. With fellow stagehands, he co-founded Wednesday Sound, providing sound and lighting for festivals and rock shows across the Southeast.

He went on to tour with Theatrical Equipment Rental (TERI), working with Leon Russell, The James Gang, Olivia Newton-John, ZZ Top, Elvis Presley, and others. In 1975, he moved to Los Angeles, joining Sundance Lighting and later See Factor, supporting tours for REO Speedwagon, John Denver, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, and many more. At the height of REO Speedwagon’s career, he served as both lighting designer and production manager, later contributing to large-scale productions for Queen, Rod Stewart, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, and the first Rock in Rio.

Shifting into sales, he tripled revenues at both Great American Market and Wybron before founding AC Lighting, Inc. in the U.S. There, he introduced innovations like the Jands Whole Hog console and WYSIWYG, later rebranding as ACT Lighting. Under his leadership, ACT became a leading distributor and pioneered the introduction of the grandMA console in North America.

In 2014, he sold ACT to BASE Equity Partners, paving the way for its evolution into ACT Entertainment. With a career spanning five decades, he is recognized as a pioneering force whose work shaped modern touring, live production, and entertainment technology worldwide.