Cliff Antone
Owner
Antone's Records and Tapes and Antone's Record Shop
Austin, TX USA
“It was the only thing I ever could do, is hear music. I couldn't hear what was going on in school or anything 'cause I had music in my head all my life.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationCliff Antone
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
Grew up on the Texas / Louisiana border with a diverse, Cajun background.
Listened to the blues and American soul growing up; says it's all he did-listen to music.
The blues were still very much an underground scene when he was growing up; wanted to "bring blues to the people."
Once they got the idea to start a club, he says people started pitching in; felt like Field of Dreams: "if you build it, they will come."
Started his blues club at such a young age that many of the acts and agents that came through asked him where his father was.
Says if he could do it over, he would've gone to school, says he made things harder than they needed to be at times.
Encourages aspiring musicians to go to school, make money first, but make sure to go for it at some point if it's a burning passion.
Says he's so happy with what he's done, but he's paid a huge price-been to jail, made very little money.
Career
Owner
I started the Austin Blues Club and independent record label, which became the playground for many blues legends.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Entrepreneurship
Music
Accomplishing Goals
Hurdles
Challenges I Overcame
Formerly Incarcerated
Interviewed By
Austin - Phoenix
In Austin, the UK team interviews Cliff Antone, owner of the famous Antone's Blues Club. En route to Phoenix, the team makes a pit stop to talk with truck driver Darius. Finally in Phoenix, they meet with Pam Gaber, founder of the non-profit group Gabriel's Angels.
