The beginning of the Austin music scene
An integral seed of the Austin music scene from 1967 to 1976, Sonobeat’s prodigious output introduced Johnny Winter, Eric Johnson, Rusty Wier, James Polk, and dozens of luminary Texas musicians to the world.
Celebrating our 20th anniversary
Although Sonobeat Records celebrated its 50th anniversary back in 2017, it wasn’t until 2004, 37 years after Sonobeat’s founding, that Sonobeat Historical Archives launched SonobeatRecords.com to celebrate Sonobeat’s legacy and the artists it recorded during its active period of 1967 to 1976.
Now in our 20th year, please explore our new site and new sights and sounds. We’ve enhanced our artist pages, updated our sound bites, added new features, and are working on new digital reissues of Sonobeat singles from the ’60s and ’70s for the upcoming months, including never-before released tracks by influential Austin rock bands.
So, poke around, explore our stories and those of the singers, songwriters, and musicians who helped make Austin the “Live Music Capital of the World”.
The (Sono)beat goes on...
In the Spotlight
Who’s Who
Over the course of its nine active years, Sonobeat recorded 72 acts – bands, combos, duets, and solos – comprised of more than 210 individuals. Who’s Who catalogs all the acts and individuals we’ve been able to identify through the Sonobeat archives, internet research, and help from Sonobeat family and friends. Even you may be listed!
The Ralph Y. Michaels Elevators Collection
The 13th Floor Elevators put Austin on the musical map in 1966 with the wild psychedelic rock classic You’re Gonna Miss Me. The ’vators played Austin’s hottest venues, mesmerizing audiences of all ages with its way-out-there songs and performances. 1960s Austin music aficionado Ralph Y. Michaels was there to capture some of that wildness in sight and sound, and he shares it with you here.
Additional Sonobeat features to explore
From how Sonobeat built its custom audio mixers to how a small Austin FM station helped launch Sonobeat to Sonobeat’ connection to the 13th Floor Elevators, we offer fun and informative special features that give you insights into Sonobeat Records and the Austin music scene during the 1960s and ’70s, an epic era in Austin music.
