by Tony Pozeck

When people speak of the blues scene in Austin, they almost always discuss two names. The first is Stevie Ray Vaughan, whose name is synonymous with modern blues guitar, his contribution attested to here in his hometown by a bronze likeness along Town Lake. The second is both a man and an institution. The person is Clifford Antone and the club is Antone's. The club's fabled history is known to have brought growth and quality to Austin's blues scene, and Clifford Antone's infamous history has left his venue perched precariously atop the very scene it helped to develop. In light of recent legal developments, though, authorities appear to be ready to immortalize this fixture of Austin's blues scene in a much less flattering way -- by imprisoning him.

The drug trafficking and money laundering charges that Antone faces have been public knowledge since 1997. He is charged with intending to distribute more than 9,000 pounds of marijuana and of laundering the resulting profits. However, on Wednesday, January 6th, 1999, these charges hit home for Austin music fans as Antone pled guilty on both counts. Had he stood trial and lost, Antone would have faced up to life in prison with a minimum of 20 years and over $4.5 million in fines. With his plea, the judge will have the discretion to sentence him to less than 20 years. Sentencing will be later this spring, so all Austin can do is sit back and wait to see what fate awaits one of its local legends.

A few weeks before Antone entered his plea, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to speak with him about the blues scene in Austin and about music in general. I wish that U.S. District Judge James Nowlin (who must still approve Antone's plea agreement) was privy to our conversation, because from my point of view, I was speaking with a hero, not a criminal -- a man that should be honored by the government rather than be imprisoned by it. The impression that our conversation left me with was that, for Antone, his club was a means of surrounding himself with what he loves (great music) while at the same time providing musicians with an opportunity to put food on the table. He truly considers the business end as secondary to the music, which is a refreshing change of pace in this day and age. A bassist himself, Antone has had the opportunity to sit in with some of the biggest names associated with the blues, names such as Buddy Guy and Albert Collins. Antone made it clear, however, that he will not mess with the show that fans want to see. "I always try to wait until late in their sets (to sit in), so I don't disrupt the flow of their show." He seemed to understand that live blues doesn't just please our ears, it elevates our souls and fills our minds with memories that will stick with us until the day we die.

When I asked Antone about his club's move from its former location near campus on Guadalupe to the warehouse district, he didn't focus on the move in terms of dollars and cents, he focused on it in terms of what a sentimental loss it was for him. He spoke of how sad he feels whenever he goes to Antone's Records, which is almost directly across the street from the club's old location. "The blues is a feeling... The old club had a lot of history. We're still trying to get some history in the new club."

And what a fabulous history the new location has had. From hosting legends like Buddy Guy and Bobby Blue Bland to presenting such historic shows as Luther Allison's final Austin appearance and Storyville's last performance, the club's walls are beginning to drip with that indefinable substance known as the blues.

I asked Antone about the changes that he has witnessed in Austin's music scene since his club first opened back in 1975. One thing that he made perfectly clear was that although Austin's music scene has changed over the years, his objective has always been the same. "To keep musicians working." Antone seemed to take particular pride in the success of local musicians that he has had the opportunity to watch develop while playing in his club, and with over 20 years experience in the business, he has provided that opportunity to many young players. I could almost hear a fatherly pride in his voice when he spoke of young musicians, such as Jake Andrews, that have played his club over the years. "[Andrews] was seven years old first time he played there with Albert King, can you even imagine how exciting it has been to see him mature as a musician?" Along with the musicians that Antone has seen develop, he has witnessed an explosion in the growth of the town's music scene -- a scene that he and his club have helped to make famous, and one that has helped to make Austin the "live music capital of the world."

Austin will not lose Antone's -- the business will continue to operate regardless of his sentencing. It is now a corporation and has been managed by Susan Antone since 1985. What Austin stands to lose, however, is the presence of a driving force that has helped Austin's music scene flourish, a man that is dedicated to providing young musicians with a chance to make it, a man who by providing us the opportunity to see so many unbelievable performances has helped make Austin a better place to live. I hope that those who determine Clifford Antone's sentence will take into consideration all the good he has done for Austin and for one of our country's national treasures, the blues. I hope they will also remember that his only crimes seem to stem from the fact that he was providing consenting adults with what they wanted.