Treasured Tracs – Record Store – Austin, TX (1981-1985)
Checking stock at the very first Austin Record Convention at the Zilker Clubhouse in 1981, convinced me that selling collectible records was a viable idea. Treasured Tracs (1115 S. Congress Ave.) had a humble beginning by starting on a shoestring budget of only a few thousand dollars in August of 1981. I began by only selling used and collectible records but was soon able to expand and carry selected imports and mainstream titles with a very strong emphasis on the growing blues and R&B scene in Austin.
Well then, who better to hire, than the musicians who are making the music you like and are selling. Some of our employees included Mike Buck (drummer for the likes of the LeRoi Brothers and the Fabulous Thunderbirds), Lucinda Williams and Eddie Stout (current proprietor of Dialtone Records and blues historian).
In-store performances and record releases helped shape what Treasured Tracs would become. The bands included the LeRoi Brothers, Lucinda Williams, Chick Willis and Little Charlie (Sexton) and the Eager Beaver Boys. Henry Gonzales of Armadillo World Headquarters fame also did a series of posters for the store.
The demise came somewhat anti-climatically when our landlord informed us that Printmasters (another tenant) wanted our space and that our lease would not be renewed. After we vacated Printmasters moved in but promptly went out of business. I continued my commerce in music by selling at the Austin Record Convention and online for the next 40+ years.
Jungle Productions/Records – Austin, TX (Founded 1983)
My first foray into music production was actually in 1981 with the legendary punk band the Stains (who became MDC or Millions of Dead Cops, Multi Death Corporation) under the moniker Buzzard Productions. The single was the infamous John Wayne Was a Nazi backed with Born to Die. It was the catalyst that propelled me forward.
As founder, president, and janitor of Jungle, I directed all aspects of music production necessary for the recording, manufacturing and sales of all formats of music. This included budgets, contracts, scheduling and monitoring recording sessions, overseeing graphic designs, layout and packaging, marketing, publicity, sales, accounting, copyrights, and licensing – you get the picture.
Jungle releases have been licensed worldwide and received several of the industry’s top awards from the National Association of Independent Record Distributors (NAIRD) and a Grammy nomination in 1986 from the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS – 28th Grammy Awards).
The first official Jungle record was the LeRoi Brothers’ Check This Action and was released in the spring of 1983 with a Rock & Roll parade down Austin’s Congress Avenue that featured the band jamming from the bed of a pick-up! The album is now considered a classic roots Rock & Roll record.
In 1985 Jungle released Big Guitars from Texas Trash, Twang and Thunder, an instrumental album that featured six of Austin’s most renowned musicians: Denny Freeman, Evan Johns, Frankie Camaro, Don Leady, Mike Buck and Keith Ferguson. TT+T was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1986 in the category of Best Rock Instrumental Performance. That same year NAIRD presented the Big Guitars an Honorable Mention Award for Best Indie Rock Album.
1985 also saw the release of the Commandos single – Psycho/My Baby Loves Monster Movies. Core members Suzy Elkins and Gerry “Phareaux” Felton were joined by Mike Buck, Omar Dykes, Don Leady, and Wes Starr and included a cameo appearance by Al “Grandpa Munster” Lewis.
1986 brought the Jungle released the self-titled debut by Evan Johns & the H-Bombs. This album was partially produced by Garry Tallent of Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band with fellow E-Streeter Danny Federici making a cameo appearance.
The fall of 1986 saw the Wild Seeds release of Brave, Clean & Reverent (JR1009). The album featured the songwriting talents of Michael Hall and also included Joey Shuffield of Fastball fame.
In 1987 the Killer Bees released Groovin’. The disc featured Michael E. Johnson and Malcolm Welborne (Papa Mali), along with very special guests Cyril Neville, Daryl Johnson (Neville Brothers), and Timbuk 3 and earned NAIRD’s top award in 1987 for Best Indie Reggae Release.
1988 saw the September self-titled release of Mamou, a Cajun-bred rock band that named themselves after their hometown of Mamou Louisiana. MCA Records licensed the album in 1990. The band and their music were also featured in the 1991 film Scorchers with Faye Dunaway and James Earl Jones.
In 1989 came the release of Evan Johns & the H-Bombs mini-album Please Mr. Santa Claus that was pressed on red vinyl. Our friends at RykoDisc licensed the album in 1990.
In the fall of 1990 the Highwaymen (later becoming Loose Diamonds) released Live Texas Radio, a set recorded for KUT-FM’s Live Set in Austin spotlighting the songwriting talents of Troy Campbell and guitarist Jud Newcomb.
South by Southwest Music & Media Conference (SXSW) – Austin, TX (1987-1997)
My SXSW life began as a co-director. In the year of its inception, I was responsible for stage backline coordination for the participating venues. I organized and participated in all aspects of this international, annual industry convention. I also served as a panelist and speaker on various workshops sharing my music industry experiences and expertise.
After a few years I settled in as Manager of the SXSW “General Store” selecting, purchasing, and marketing a variety of SXSW merchandise to conference attendees, and where I created an inventory control system to track band merch sales. I also supervised numerous volunteers along with creating store layouts and displays.
The First SXSW – http://www.austinchronicle.com/features/2001-09-07/82876/
Project Management/Services
My expansion into project management services began with my by chance introduction to the members of Sauti Sol at SXSW 2011 (they stayed at my house!), an African Pop band from Kenya that started out singing a Capella on the streets of Nairobi. The following year at SXSW I handled their local tour logistics, organizing, booking and promoting numerous gigs during the music festival, including press and radio interview and a sweet video shoot with NPR.
Jungle Reactivated
When the True Believers reunited in 2012 after Grulkefest, Jungle was called upon to digitally distribute two new recordings Dedication and Gipsy Son in support of a TB tour. In 2013 we digitally released the original first two True Believer albums as the twofer Hard Road.
2017 brought the re-release of the LeRoi Brothers Check This Action on CD with Bonus tracks that includes the infamous Moon Twist EP.
2019 happily started by working again with Suzy Elkins with the release of The Commandos unreleased – The Lone Star Sessions. These are the original 1983 sessions that spawned the Jungle 7′ single of Psycho b/w My Baby Loves Monster Movies release of 1985.
2019 also brought the re-release of the Evan Johns and the H-Bomb’s legendary Giddy Up Girl EP originally released in 1980 as a 10-inch record that has been unavailable till now.
2021 saw another historic re-release of the Cobras Caught Live at the Continental Club. A much-expanded set and a 40th Anniversary Edition taken from the live sessions that was originally released in 1981 as a 10-inch vinyl EP and long out of print. It features the Austin legends Denny Freeman, Joe Sublet, Rodney Craig and Junior Medlow.
Associations – Awards
- 1986 – Nominated for a Grammy Award (NARAS) for the album Trash, Twang & Thunder by the Big Guitars from Texas in the category of Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
- 1986 – Received an Honorable Mention Award from the National Association of Independent Record Distributors (NAIRD) for the album Trash, Twang & Thunder by the Big Guitars from Texas for Best Indie Rock Album.
- 1987 – Earned NAIRD’s First Place Award for the album Groovin’ by the Killer Bees for Best Indie Reggae Release.
- 1988 to 1989 – Served on the board of the Austin Chapter of the Texas Music Association.
Contact the Jungle
junglebruce@jungletx.com
512-653-3785
