CITY OF AUSTIN TO HOST
MUSICAL PUBLIC MEMORIAL
FOR CLIFFORD ANTONE ON JUNE 3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2006

Clifford's Blues: A Celebration of His Life
6:00 - 9:00 PM, Saturday, June 3
Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX
Free; complimentary parking; 5:00 PM doors open

Limited number of sponsorship tables available:  512.692.4191 x 3
Information: 512.217.9404

Lineup for 'Clifford's Blues: A Celebration of His Life' To Feature Local Favorites

Austin, TX -- The great life and legendary times of Austin club owner, blues man and blues music historian Clifford Jamal Antone will be celebrated 6:00 - 9:00 PM Saturday, June 3, at the City's Palmer Events Center with a dazzling musical lineup to include Jimmie Vaughan and the Tilt-a-Whirl Band, Lou Ann Barton, Calvin Jones, Angela Strehli, Derek O'Brien and Antone's House Band. Many other special guests are expected. Emcees are to include Allen "Sugarbear" Black and 107.1 KGSR's Jody Denberg.


The public is invited to the free event. Doors open at 5:00 PM and complimentary parking is to be provided by the City of Austin and Palmer Events Center.  For more information, call 512.217.9404 or go to www.cliffordantone.com.

A limited number of sponsorship tables are available; call 512.692.4191 x 3. More music will follow the memorial at Antone's Nightclub, 312. W. Fifth St., Austin.

"Clifford Antone will be missed," Texas music legend Willie Nelson said Wednesday. "He was a friend of mine, and my whole family and everyone who knew him loved him. He did as much, if not more than anyone, for the music scene. He knew the blues. We love you, Clifford."

Bobbie Nelson echoed the sentiment: "Clifford, I'm so very grateful to have known you. I am proud to call you my friend. We all owe you so much gratitude for all you have given us. Your love for music and humanity has enriched and blessed the lives of all of us in music. Clifford, we will miss you."

Antone, who died at age 56 on Tuesday, May 23, opened his first club on July 15, 1975, at Sixth and Brazos streets and ran two other locations before the club's current site on West Fifth Street. During 31 years, Antone brought to Austin the best of Texas, Louisiana and Chicago and blues names from around the world including Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Fats Domino, Sunnyland Slim, Hubert Sumlin, Eddie Taylor, Walter "Shakey" Horton, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Pinetop Perkins, Albert King, Luther Tucker, James Cotton, Jones, Willie "Big Eye" Smith, Bobby Blue Bland and B.B. King.

Antone's nightclub earned its reputation as Austin's "Home of the Blues" with its cultivation of local talent when the beloved blues man offered the stage to the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Jimmie Vaughan, Angela Strehli, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Paul Ray & the Cobras, Derek O'Brien, Lou Ann Barton, Denny Freeman, Kim Wilson and Charlie Sexton. In more recent years, the tradition continued with Doyle Bramhall II, Sue Foley, Bob Schneider, Eve Monsees, Gary Clark Jr., Jake Andrews, Guy Forsyth and Del Castillo.

At the family's request, donations to Antone's memory should be made to the Clifford Antone Memorial Fund, Prosperity Bank, Austin or via this website.

Clifford's Blues is presented with assistance from friends of Clifford Antone.

Media contact:

McGuckin Entertainment PR
Jill McGuckin, 512.217.9404
jill@mcguckinpr.com


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Directions:  Palmer is located just south of downtown.  Here is a map to get directions from your location. (page will launch in a new window)