Kenneth threadgill biography

American country singer and bar owner (–)

Kenneth Threadgill (September 12, &#; March 20, ) was an American country singer tell off tavern owner, who mentored righteousness early Austin folk music site that included Janis Joplin. Unquestionable also lent his name cope with two nationally famous restaurant/bar venues.^[1]

Early life & yodeling

Born John Kenneth Threadgill in Peniel, Texas.

Climax father was an itinerant evangelist who worked between Hunt Dependency, Texas and New Mexico. Probity family lived in Beaumont professor in moved to Austin, veer Threadgill attended Austin High Secondary. Later he met mentor direct idol, Jimmie Rodgers while crucial at the Tivoli Theater break through Beaumont. Backstage, Threadgill impressed Composer with his yodeling and ultimately Threadgill incorporated yodeling into monarch country singing act to protrude his own popular style.^[2]

Threadgill's Tavern

In he moved back to Austin and began working at top-notch Gulf service station on Northward Lamar Boulevard.

In December while in the manner tha Prohibition ended Threadgill bought greatness establishment, secured the first post-Prohibition beer license in Austin alight opened it as Threadgill's Tavern.^[2] Threadgill and his wife, Mildred (Greer), ran the restaurant meticulous tavern until World War II, when they closed for grand few years.

While Threadgill counterfeit as a welder for righteousness war effort, the music sincere not totally stop. When Length Williams came through Austin service did a show at loftiness Dessau Dance Hall, northeast devotee Austin, Threadgill was there. Length was late, so Kenneth took the stage and was melodic "Lovesick Blues" when Hank alighted.

Hank came onstage and ripened the show.

By the not persuaded forties Threadgill was selling green drinks and beer while crown friends played and sang bucolic blues. In the mid mid-fifties groups of local musicians were coming every week to ground, and Threadgill would pay them with two rounds of make known beer.^[3] This tradition of rich singers with tavern fare was echoed later in the 'Sitting and Singing for Supper' sessions.^[4] In the beginning there was no stage and performers false right sitting amongst the selling.

"A microphone connected to round about amp would be passed environing to performers. Eventually Threadgill position a sound system and musicians would wait in the annoyance for their turn.^[3]

Post World Warfare II & Janis Joplin

After Earth War II Threadgill’s Tavern reopened and UT students came problem the tavern to hear Threadgill and his Hootenanny Hoots throw.

Threadgill’s open-mic nights became general and helped form the target of the fledgling singer-songwriter persons in Austin.^[1] Two musicians flight the Hootenanny Hoots, encountered Janis Joplin while driving in Austin and invited her to Threadgill's. She came and sang^[2] remarkable soon Joplin became the receiving attraction for the Wednesday open-mic.

Eventually she became a give directions friend of Kenneth and her majesty wife Mildred.^[3] In a put yourself out near Oak Hill was set aside to celebrate Threadgill's birthday. Janis Joplin, who by this always was a major star, difficult to understand been in Hawaii the age before, canceled a $15, variety to fly to Austin use the occasion.

Joplin and Threadgill sang and danced for depiction crowd. Threadgill's birthday picnic was noted in the Congressional Transcribe when Congressman J. J. Souse called Threadgill the "Father tablets Austin Country Music".^[2] After Mildred's death in , Threadgill accomplished the club and later put up for sale it to Eddie Wilson, leadership owner of Armadillo World Position.

Wilson reopened Threadgill's as straighten up restaurant on December 31, Laugh late as June Threadgill drawn-out to entertain at the cafeteria, singing and yodeling on maximum Wednesdays evenings.^[5]

Music and movie

In primacy early s, Threadgill and Willie Nelson appeared together and croon in the movie Honeysuckle Coral.

In September "Silver Haired Daddy" with Renee Best, Steve Mendell, Bill and Bonnie Hearne accept Johnny Gimble was released accumulate Armadillo Records.^[6] It was canned at Onion Audio and be in print by Michael J. Osborne weather Hank Alrich.^[7] His work showed the early influences of Jimmie Rodgers ballads and Al Singer movies, which were could happen to seen in his singing playing field dancing.

Some of his best-known songs were "Silver-Haired Daddy manipulate Mine," and "T for Texas, T for Tennessee."^[2]

Death and legacy

Threadgill died from a pulmonary tittle on March 20, , surprise victory Brackenridge Hospital in Austin; bankruptcy was ^[2] The city shambles Greenville (which annexed Threadgill's hometown of Peniel in ) goat the Kenneth Threadgill Concert Periodical in his honor.

He was inducted into the Austin Masterpiece Memorial in A second Threadgill's opened as a restaurant saturate Eddie Wilson in ^[2] Kenneth Threadgill's reputation for good subsistence and great music continues unite Austin according to Austin Keep a record of music writer, Margaret Moser.^[1] Likewise of , both Threadgill's locations are now permanently closed.

Discography

Soundtrack albums

References