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Overview

Sonobeat Recording Company (Sonobeat Records and Sonosong Music) was founded in Austin, Texas, in 1967 by Bill Josey Sr. and Bill Josey Jr.

As an integral seed of the Austin music revolution that began in the mid-'60s, this small Central Texas label's prodigious output introduced Johnny Winter, Eric Johnson, Rusty Wier, the Afro-Caravan, and dozens of other luminary Texas musicians to the world.

Sonobeat.com offers a deep history and illustrative anecdotes of Sonobeat and the artists who helped create and shape the Austin music scene.

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KAZZ-FM
Sonobeat's connection to a small Austin FM station

1973: Yesterday Once More
Back we go 40 years to the Austin of 1973
Welcome

Sonobeat.com offers insights into how Sonobeat was formed, grew, and operated. But more than that, Sonobeat.com's exclusive access to Sonobeat's private archives -- including master audio tapes, photographs, and documents long thought lost -- provides a unique retrospective into the diverse and dynamic Central Texas music scene from the mid '60s to the mid '70s, the beginning of Austin's emergence as the live music capital of the world.

Sonobeat recorded artists performing in almost every musical genre -- from rock to blues to gospel to R&B to jazz to country to folk. The Sonobeat story features hundreds of talented artists who have made musical history in Austin.

Whether you're newly initiated into Austin's rich musical heritage or were part of its '60s and '70s music scene, Sonobeat.com offers surprises, delights, and dozens of rare sound bites sprinkled throughout.

Featured Artist

Lavender Hill Express

At the end of 1967, Austin, Texas, rock supergroup Lavender Hill Express began a one-year multi-record relationship with Sonobeat. Sonobeat's first Lavender Hill Express release was the up-tempo Visions, a pop-rock tour-de-force with terrific harmony vocal parts, written by guitarist Layton DePenning
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Lavender Hill Express

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Remembering Bill Josey Sr.

A look back at the life of Sonobeat co-founder Bill Josey Sr. (1921-1976) and his contributions to the Central Texas music scene.

Wall of Fame

From 1967 to 1976, Sonobeat recorded hundreds of Central Texas artists. The Wall of Fame presents rare photos of many of those artists. Requires Flash.

Recording Visions and Trying to Live a Life
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