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.
The roots of the Austin music scene
Where else but Austin, Texas, can you find Austin City Limits, the longest-running music series in American television history, South By Southwest, the international media fest also known as “SXSW”, and an Afro-jazz-to-Zydeco musical night life every day of the week. Back in the late ’60s, Austin music was already red hot with its unique brand of hard rock, psychedelic rock, progressive country, and cool jazz, all fueled by over 35,000 University of Texas students, a thriving high school garage band culture, and the center of Texas government. Austin’s music scene grew from these roots.
Sonobeat Records, launched in 1967, was there at the beginning of the Austin music scene, recording and releasing singles and albums by the best and most progressive music acts to play the Austin music scene in the ’60s and ’70s. Happenin’ sounds!
In the Spotlight
James Polk and the Brothers
Though perhaps best known as a Hammond B3 organ virtuoso, Austin, Texas’ legendary Dr. James Polk also was a noted classical and jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and music educator, whose career spanned gigs with Lionel Hampton’s and Ray Charles’ orchestras to his own Austin-based jazz-funk-R&B combos. Sonobeat was honored to record James Polk and the Brothers, Dr. Polk’s late-’60s and early ’70s band, releasing the group’s gospel-funk single Stick-To-It-Tive-Ness as a stereo 45 RPM single in 1969.
Who’s Who
From 1967 to 1976, Sonobeat recorded hundreds of Austin, Central Texas, national, and international singers, songwriters, and musicians. Since launching SonobeatRecords.com in 2004, we”ve continuously mined the Sonobeat archives and connected with members of the acts Sonobeat recorded and their families and friends to compile an up-to-date list of the legacies and legends who make up Sonobeat’s Who’s Who
Explore our history
Sonobeat Records was founded in Austin, Texas, in May 1967 and operated in Central Texas until September 1976, releasing two dozen stereo 45 RPM singles and half-a-dozen albums recorded by Austin, Central Texas, and international singers, songwriters, and musicians. Journey back in time with a scrolling list of Sonobeat’s 1960s and ’70s milestones or dive right into Sonobeat’s year-by-year story.
