d The armadillo has been associated with the Austin music scene since the late 1960s but came to full prominence as the namesake and mascot of the Armadillo World Headquarters music hall that opened in 1970. The iconic illustrations of the nine-banded, armor-shelled mammal that adorned Armadillo World Headquarters are the creation of legendary Austin artist and AWH co-founder Jim Franklin.
The beginning of the Austin music scene
(Re)discover the roots of Austin music
Austin's music scene started here
Where else but Austin can you find Austin City Limits, SXSW, and an Afro-jazz-to-Zydeco musical night life. Back in the late '60s, Austin music is already red hot with it's unique Southern and psychedelic rock, cosmic cowboy, and jazz scenes, all fueled by more than 35,000 University of Texas students, a thriving high school garage rock culture, and the center of Texas government. Here's where it all started.
50 years ago in Austin music
Sonobeat Recording Company is born in Austin, Texas, in mid-1967, but today, in 2019, we're looking back 50 years to 1969, when Sonobeat isn't even two years old and already has a major national release – Johnny Winter's The Progressive Blues Experiment – under it's belt. Take a quick trip back back in time to check out the Austin and Central Texas artists Sonobeat recorded in '69.
A look back at Bill Wilson
In 1969, personable singer/songwriter Bill Wilson is in-studio with Austin's Sonobeat Records. Bill records 18 original songs that Sonobeat circulates to national record labels to attract covers by major artists. Later in the year Bill performs lead vocals on Sonobeat's legendary Mariani album. Bill's story takes a tragic turn in 1993, after he returns to his native Indiana. Here's more about Sonobeat and Bill Wilson.
Happenin's around Sonobeat
A Picture of Me, reframed
Our spectacular digital remaster of the Sweetarts' 1967 single A Picture of Me breathes new life into this Austin rock classic. Celebrating the single's 50th anniversary in 2017, we mounted A Picture of Me in a Mastered for iTunes digital frame that brings out its original sonic goodness and sounds even better than the original vinyl edition. You'll find A Picture of Me and its flipside, Without You, on iTunes and dozens of digital services worldwide.
You better Watch Out!
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of Lavender Hill Express' Watch Out, in 2018 we remastered and reissued a dazzling digital edition. Watch Out is classic southern rock by one of Austin's premiere '60s bands. Originally issued as a vinyl 45 RPM single in June 1968, this was Lavender Hill Express' second Sonobeat release. Our remaster restores its super sonics. Get Watch Out now on digital download and streaming services worldwide.
Now you can search Sonobeat
We've partnered with Site Search 360 to bring you a quick and easy way to search Sonobeat. Looking for a particular band, musician, singer, songwriter, or song? You'll find a search box at the bottom of each page. Enter your search criteria and press Enter or Return to get a graphic list of the pages where your search term appears. Just another way to help you find what you're looking for here at Sonobeat.
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