| RIP, Clifford Antone
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Clifford J. Antone, bassist, and owner of Antone's Nightclub, in Austin, Texas, passed away yesterday. It has not yet been confirmed, but it is suspected that he had a heart attack.
Clifford (he'd hate it if I called him Mr. Antone) was a strong, driving force behind the live music scene in Austin. Austin is called The Live Music Capital Of The World in large part because of his efforts.
He provided a venue for Texas music, Texas blues in particular, to blossom and flourish. People like Stevie Ray Vaughn, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and so many other Texas greats, would not have had the careers they did if not for Antone's, and Clifford. He made sure their music was heard not only by local fans, but by people around the world.
Clifford's life contained controversy, as well. Several years ago, he was busted on drug charges...marijuana, quite a lot of it. He was caught dead-to-rights, and served his time. Then, Carole Keaton-Rylander-Strayhorn conducted a publicity stunt by bringing the news media along to a Monte Montomery show, so she could bust Antone for back taxes. She did it during the first set, after the venue had sold out, but before the bar had a chance to sell much. Antone's had made a payment arrangement with her office, and she didn't go publically bust anyone else's establishment, much less bring the media. She's was trying to get elected to a state office, you see, and busting someone like Clifford gets her votes from outside of Austin. If she really wanted his money, she could have waited 'til the end of the night and collected the hefty bar receipts. But this was about publicity.
Antone took it in stride, paid his taxes, and Ms. Strayhorn earned the enmity of just about every Austin-area musician.
Clifford Antone made his venue and acts available to kids, having early shows so that parents could bring their kids to experience live music in a safe setting. He also raised a lot of money for local children's and musician's charities. He helped start many a music career, and fostered creativity and interaction between musicians. He was known as a sweet man who enjoyed helping others.
Although a proficient bassist, he did not blow his own horn. He preferred to blow the horn for others. He would sit in with bands when a bass was needed, but he preferred to let others have the spotlight.
Clifford Antone was as much a part of Austin as Stevie Ray, or the Longhorns. He was the heart and soul of music, here, and he will be very, very sorely missed.
Rock on, Clifford. You've gone home.
Cherie | 
