TITLE: Recognizing Antone's Nightclub on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

SUMMARY: Recognizing Antone's Nightclub on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to join the citizens of Austin in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Antone's Nightclub; and WHEREAS, The vision of Port Arthur native Clifford Antone, Antone's began as a small sandwich shop before reopening as a blues venue on Sixth Street in July of 1975, and it soon ushered in a new and defining wave of live music to the capital city; and WHEREAS, The famed nightclub has been known as a launch pad for many renowned musical artists over the years and has nurtured the successful careers of many emerging blues performers and served as a creative home for established musicians; the venue has showcased such legendary performers as Muddy Waters, B. B. King, and Jimmy Reed, as well as the great Albert King, who once shared the stage with a young Stevie Ray Vaughan; and WHEREAS, Antone's has remained a steady presence throughout years of extensive development and growth in the capital city, and the club has relocated a number of times to adapt to Austin's ever-evolving music scene and culture; Antone's stage on Burnet Road drew crowds for such iconic artists as Ray Charles and James Brown, and during the club's storied era on Guadalupe Street, local acts including the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble gained wide acclaim and shot to national stardom; and WHEREAS, Antone's returned to downtown in 1997 and opened its doors to new musical styles and a broad range of musical artists, and over the last decade, the nightclub has flourished at its current home on Fifth Street, only a few blocks away from its original location; rising artists continue to hone their craft at the venue, and such headlining performers as Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, and Bono have recently graced the stage; and WHEREAS, Antone's is celebrating 50 years of blues with the 2025 launch of a new restaurant, bar, and stage at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport, as well as with the grand opening of the Blues Museum on the top floor of the downtown club and the return of the Austin Blues Festival at the Moody Amphitheater; and WHEREAS, Antone's Nightclub has played a key role in broadening and defining Austin's musical landscape, and its establishment created a haven for blues artists that helped to solidify the city's reputation as the Live Music Capital of the World; Antone's is a treasured fixture of the capital city and a respected American blues institution, and the club's 50th anniversary is truly cause for celebration among music fans in Austin, throughout the Lone Star State, and beyond; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session, herebycommendallwhohave contributed to Antone's half-century of success as one of the city's most historic and revered music venues and extend to all best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the club as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. Eckhardt President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on September 4, 2025.