Jack Calmes

CALMES, Jack Jack Norton Calmes passed away peacefully at home on January 5, 2015, after a 20 month battle with cancer. He died, as he lived, with integrity and purpose. Jack was a talented and creative man who loved his family, his dogs, his music, and good food. He and Susie, his adored wife of 25 years had an enduring passion for each other, their daughter and son-in-law Audrey and Peter Dellgren, their dear grandchildren Ally and Johan, and their cherished dogs, Rocky and Cozette. Jack was born in 1943 in Oklahoma City to the late Mary and Charles Calmes. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Bob Hawkins and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Anita and Frank Coniglio. He is also survived by his nieces, Celinda Hawkins and Susan Bruner and her husband, Howard, and his sisters-in-law Mary Beth Rogers and Martha Coniglio, his brother-in-law Frank B. Coniglio, numerous other family members and hundreds of loyal friends. Jack's extraordinary talent for music began at an early age, as he sang alongside his mother, a self-taught pianist. His storied career as a musician began in earnest when he was a student at Highland Park High School where he, and fellow band-members, Boz Skaggs and Steve Miller, played at the hottest clubs in Dallas' during the 50s and 60s. At the age of fifteen, Jack was a back-up musician at Dallas' Sportatorium for some of the nation's most famous performers, including Jimmy Reed and Chuck Berry. His music career and his education continued at SMU, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, graduating with a BBA in 1965. Soon after graduation, he teamed up with Angus Wynn to create the legendary "Showco" and, for more than fifteen years, they not only produced live shows for many of the world's most celebrated artists like Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and The Who, they opened Soul City on Greenville las, where Jack could be seen performing on stage with headliners like Stevie Wonder and Ike and Tina Turner. In 1969, the legendary bluesman, Freddie King, hired Jack to be his manager. Jack, through his contacts, was able to book Freddie at the Texas Pop Festival, alongside the greats of the day, including Led Zeppelin, which helped to jump-start Freddie's career and his ultimate induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jack was a visionary who soon realized that audiences wanted more than a live show, they wanted an extravaganza. His life-long fascination with music and technology led him to found Syncrolite in 1984, where he began to develop lighting systems that were so advanced and unique that he earned two United States patents. His company was the genius behind such celebrated and stunning lighting events as the 2012 London Olympics, the lighting of the Golden Gate Bridge, and Super Bowl XLV. Syncrolite soon became the standard by which all other lighting companies were measured. In 1980, Jack founded the 16-piece "soul-blues-R&B powerhouse", the Forever Fabulous Chickenhawks Showband & All-Star Revue, in which he played lead guitar. Between all of its members, the Chickenhawks have 10 Grammys, 14 gold and/or platinum albums and with a combined cumulative musical experience of over 250 years. To critical acclaim, The Hawks have released five albums. In addition to his talent, both in business and in music, Jack was a deeply spiritual person and traveled throughout the world to study with renowned religious leaders, who helped him hone his transcendent faith, leading him to a self-awareness that would shape his life. We want to thank Jack's caregivers who helped him through his final days; Katie, Rosie, Amber, Melanie and Presbyterian Faith Hospice. We, his family and friends, are bonded by our shared memories of Jack and by his friendship, his spirit and his strength. We will continue to love you and to carry your messages of kindness and compassion and of courage and faith. Thank you, Jack, for the wonderful years you shared with us. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Jack's life at Sparkman Hillcrest on Monday, January 12 at 2:00 pm, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the SPCA of Texas.