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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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join the citizens of Austin in celebrating the 50th anniversary |
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of Antone's Nightclub; and |
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WHEREAS, The vision of Port Arthur native Clifford Antone, |
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Antone's began as a small sandwich shop before reopening as a |
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blues venue on Sixth Street in July of 1975, and it soon ushered |
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in a new and defining wave of live music to the capital city; and |
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WHEREAS, The famed nightclub has been known as a launch pad |
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for many renowned musical artists over the years and has nurtured |
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the successful careers of many emerging blues performers and |
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served as a creative home for established musicians; the venue |
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has showcased such legendary performers as Muddy Waters, B. B. |
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King, and Jimmy Reed, as well as the great Albert King, who once |
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shared the stage with a young Stevie Ray Vaughan; and |
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WHEREAS, Antone's has remained a steady presence |
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throughout years of extensive development and growth in the |
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capital city, and the club has relocated a number of times to |
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adapt to Austin's ever-evolving music scene and culture; Antone's |
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stage on Burnet Road drew crowds for such iconic artists as Ray |
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Charles and James Brown, and during the club's storied era on |
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Guadalupe Street, local acts including the Fabulous Thunderbirds |
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and Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble gained wide acclaim and |
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shot to national stardom; and |
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WHEREAS, Antone's returned to downtown in 1997 and opened |
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its doors to new musical styles and a broad range of musical |
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artists, and over the last decade, the nightclub has flourished |
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at its current home on Fifth Street, only a few blocks away from |
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its original location; rising artists continue to hone their |
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craft at the venue, and such headlining performers as Bonnie |
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Raitt, Lucinda Williams, and Bono have recently graced the stage; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Antone's is celebrating 50 years of blues with the |
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2025 launch of a new restaurant, bar, and stage at the Austin |
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Bergstrom International Airport, as well as with the grand |
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opening of the Blues Museum on the top floor of the downtown club |
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and the return of the Austin Blues Festival at the Moody |
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Amphitheater; and |
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WHEREAS, Antone's Nightclub has played a key role in |
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broadening and defining Austin's musical landscape, and its |
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establishment created a haven for blues artists that helped to |
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solidify the city's reputation as the Live Music Capital of the |
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World; Antone's is a treasured fixture of the capital city and a |
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respected American blues institution, and the club's 50th |
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anniversary is truly cause for celebration among music fans in |
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Austin, throughout the Lone Star State, and beyond; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commend all who have |
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contributed to Antone's half-century of success as one of the |
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city's most historic and revered music venues and extend to all |
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best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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the club as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |