Pasquale
Quadri, Founder and Chairman of Clay Paky SpA, the world leader in show
lighting, passed away tonight in his home in Torre De Roveri.
Pasquale
“Paky” Quadri was a highly successful entrepreneur, although very reserved. He
preferred not to appear very much but every lighting professional, all over the
world, knows that he was, until today, the creative soul of Clay Paky, the
Italian company that exports 97% of its production and is present, with its
sophisticated luminaires, on the stages of the most important events and shows
in the world. Some of the most recent that are worth remembering are the Summer
Olympic Games in London, the Winter Games in Sochi, the Academy Awards, the
shows by Bruno Mars and Madonna during the finals of the Superbowl, the tours
of many artists such as Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, the Rolling Stones and,
in Italy, Vasco Rossi, Ligabue, Laura Pausini and Gianna Nannini, the magic
exhibitions of the Cirque du Soleil and the ballets of the Bolshoi Theatre of
Moscow.
The
story of Mr. Quadri, truly passionate about technology and the culture of
innovation, is closely intertwined with the history of show business, and it is
studded with great international successes: it was Quadri who conceived most of
the Clay Paky products, from the very first lighting effects such as
Astrodisco, which became an icon in the discotheques of the 70s and 80s to the
legendary automated lights used in rock concerts and TV, such as Golden Scan
and Sharpy, up to today’s innovative B-EYE.
The
company that Quadri founded in 1976 is one of the most brilliant examples of
“made in Italy” that is successful in the world. Quadri never gave in the
temptation of moving the company to countries with lower costs and taxation,
even though his most dangerous competitors come from those same countries:
Asian companies which for years have copied his ideas, despite the 80 and more
patents held by Quadri. Thanks to him, Clay Paky has obtained a total of more
than 50 of the most prestigious international awards in the sector of
professional show lighting.
In
March this year, Quadri was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award
at the MIPA Awards held in Frankfurt during Musikmesse, the most important
world trade show for musical instruments, professional sound and equipment for
stage shows. Quadri was the first representative from the lighting industry to
receive this prestigious prize. He had been preceded by figures who have
written the history of the music industry in the world and these include, for
example, the two Meyer brothers, founders of the famous loudspeaker company
Meyer Sound, Fritz Sennheiser, inventor of the wireless microphone and Jim
Marshall, whose amplifiers for guitar are legendary.
At the
beginning of August this year, Quadri signed an agreement to transfer the
ownership of Clay Paky SpA to OSRAM, one of the two most important
manufacturers of lighting sources in the world, with the objective of securing
further expansion for the company, also thanks to the current management team,
confirmed by the German company.
Pasquale
Quadri, 67, is outlived by his wife Antonella, his daughters Alessandra and Francesca,
and granddaughters Melissa and Martina.
The
complete biography of Pasquale Quadri and the story of Clay Paky are available
on http://www.claypaky.it
by Monday.
