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Mark West reflects on 40 years of live event production

KSMU | By Jimmy Rea

Published August 7, 2025 at 12:27 PM CDT

Randle Chowning (left), Tony Orlando (center), Mark West (right) — Randle Chowning, Tony Orlando, Mark West

Before an artist walks on stage for a concert and before the audience walks through the gate of that concert, there is so much work that goes into a show. Staging, lights, and sound are a piece of that puzzle and a very often overlooked element of a great show. For nearly four decades Mark West and his business Downhome Productions have brought events to life with these production elements.

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Jimmy Rea

Jimmy Rea is a proud Ozarkian with deep ties to the music community. With 2 decades of creative entrepreneurship underfoot, Jimmy has toured coast to coast and around the world with acoustic acts The HillBenders and Keller Williams. Spearheading numerous musical groups, recording projects, and live music events, Rea’s work in the Springfield music scene is a passion and lifestyle. Happily married to wife Melissa and father to Archie, they enjoy life together with 2 dogs and a cat. In his downtime you can find Jimmy fishing for bass in the crisp rivers, creeks, and streams of the Ozarks.

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