Joe Gannon was a recording producer, director, and a musical stage lighting and production designer. APhiladelphia native, Gannon's career began as road manager forthe Kingston Trio in the band's early days of its greatest success.[1] He later operated and managedFrank Zappa’s record company and produced records for CBS. Gannon also worked as road manager forBill Cosby and stagedMadonna's first film appearance. He toured internationally as a producer, director and lighting designer for such stars asAlice Cooper,Teddy Pendergrass,Luther Vandross,Barry Manilow,Julio Iglesias.[2]Joe Gannon died on January 9, 2024 at age 93.
In the early 1950s after serving theNavy, Gannon attended Menlo College’s School of Business Administration inCalifornia. There he metDave Guard,Nick Reynolds and singer Barbara Bogue (she later became his wife) who together began a singing group called "Dave Guard & the Calypsonians" and later, "The Kingston Quartet". The group performed at college frat parties and were regulars at the Cracked Pot Cafe across the street from campus, Gannon playingstand-up bass. He left the group after graduation in 1956, moving to Minneapolis where he went into business. The Calypsonians regrouped with Guard, Reynolds andBob Shane becoming known asThe Kingston Trio. Gannon returned to California and eventually became the long-time road manager and later business manager for the Trio. In 2000, the Kingston Trio was inducted into theVocal Group Hall of Fame.
In 1967, Gannon was credited as recording engineer on theLost Kingston Trio Album, which was recorded in 1966 at the breakup of the group withJohn Stewart.
In 1970, Joe Gannon was one of the first production designers to use moving sets on rock concert tours while he was working withNeil Diamond. Gannon was Diamond's road manager, lighting director, and show consultant in the early 1970s. Gannon's involvement was credited as the reason for the great improvement in Diamond's stage presentations by the time of the legendary 1972Hot August Night concert series.
Expanding upon creative input fromAlice Cooper and Shep Gordon, Gannon was responsible for turning Cooper's vision into a tangible, three-dimensional nightmare reality of magic and wonderment. These set designs resulted in some of the most elaborate stage and light presentations of any rock show, setting a new standard in terms of sheer massive size.[3] In 1974, Gannon directed the documentary film,Good To See you Again, Alice Cooper, which was re-released in 2005.[2]
His wife,Beverly Gannon, is a prominent chef inMaui, where one of her three restaurants is named after him.[4][5]
