Out of 26 million Texans, you may have an idea to change the world. You may have had several ideas to change the world. But only a tiny minority of you pushed through the U.S. Patent office from application to successful patent. We've seen Texans change the world many times over. Jack Kilby did it with Texas Instruments in 1958 with the integrated circuit, causing the start of the digital revolution, which, in part, is why you can read these words over your electronic device.
Over the last few years, Texas Business has brought its feature: Texas Business Patent of the Day. This list is of the ones that were either extremely clever, odd or strange. One thing becomes apparent from these patents and the patent that runs daily in Texas Business—Texans have a unique mind set.
Though the history of the Corn Dog is disputed, the State Fair of Texas claims to have introduced the Corny Dog sometime between 1938 and 1942. As a paean to that invention that now sits in the freezer section of every grocery store in the southwest, here are the fried foods the State Fair of Texas has introduced, or tried to introduce, in the last seven years.
Dead Texas musicians live on every time you hear their songs. Their songs play everywhere, so the dead Texas musicians appear to be immortal. Here's the short list.
Don't get caught up with John Wayne religion. For one thing, he's not Texan. He's in some fine movies involving Texas, most notably The Searchers, but none of his movies can make the best cut of Texas movies. Here's the short list.
Unsung Texas Business Journalists Mention that one is a reporter, and there's a spark of interest. Mention that one is a business news reporter, and watch the eyes glaze over. Except to the players, business and economic journalists are unappreciated. While many wish to become sports reporters when they grow up, most do not realize that business journalists cover the Real Game. Mention that reporter covers business, and watch the eyes glaze over. A toast to these below on the short list and the numerous unnamed ones slogging away. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Best Texas Mexican Food: The Short List No, we're not going to debate the difference between Tex-Mex, Mex-Tex, Mexican and Texican food. Just know these establishments are the pinnacle of Texas Mexican fare. No brag, just fact. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Best Texas Burgers Texas Burgers. . While a hamburger is merely sustenance and gratification for a meal, the memory a good Texas burger can give rise to Homeric odes. The short list. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Ray Wylie Hubbard brings Texas favorites together for Grit 'n Groove Festival Texas Business recommends this story by Arden Ward of CultureMap Austin: Texas music legend Ray Wylie Hubbard is responsible for some of the Lone Star State’s most revered, humor-tinged country anthems. He’s the mind behind “Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother” (covered and made famous by Jerry Jeff Walker in the early 1970s), and 2006’s ultra simple hit with a surprisingly smooth groove, "Snake Farm.”Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
The band named Austin Heat had just finished its set at the Hole in the Wall, a longtime music hangout in Austin just off the UT campus. Sitting on the back patio, singer Brian Scartocci mulled over his half-eaten Philly cheesesteak.
“To be completely honest, this sandwich was not worth $9,” he said.
Full Story » By Emily Grobe and Forrest Burnson For Reporting Texas
Texas Business reports: SAN ANTONIO—Festival People En Espanol 2012, an event celebrating Hispanic entertainment, culture and community, announced its lineup of musical talent performing in San Antonio on September 1 – 2.
Texas Business reports: DENTON—Reefer Madness, a satire of the 1936 cult classic film, will be presented by the University of North Texas Department of Dance and Theatre March 29 through April 1.
Texas Business reports: NEW YORK—Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, entered into a historic new record deal with Texas musician Willie Nelson.
Texas Business reports: AUSTIN—The Texas Heritage Songwriters Association (TxHSA) will hold its 7th Annual Hall of Fame Awards Show on March 4th, 2012 at Austin City Limits Live at Moody Theater in downtown Austin.
Texas Business reports: Posting their music videos to YouTube began as a side project for Henry and Robinett, but now it may lead to a viable career option for both.
Texas Business reports: OAKLAND, Calif. and AUSTIN— Pandora, a provider of personalized internet radio, and DMX, a provider of commercial music and experiential marketing, formed a a partnership to provide the first personalized internet radio solution for businesses.
In Austin and Elsewhere, Vinyl Is Hip AUSTIN—Vinyl record sales are continuing to rise in Austin and around the country, and vinyl’s popularity isn’t just about sound quality. Increasingly, vinyl is part of being hip.Full Story » Carson Lane For Reporting Texas
Texas Business reports: DENTON—The University of North Texas Opera will present two performances of Handel’s Alcina in this year’s Summer Opera Workshop.
Texas Business reports: Church music ministers and choir directors from across the country will gather for the 10th annual Alleluia conference at Baylor University Tuesday, July 19, through Friday, July 22.
Texas Business reports: Church music ministers and choir directors from across the country will gather for the 10th annual Alleluia conference at Baylor University Tuesday, July 19, through Friday, July 22.
Texas Business reports: The annual Mimir Chamber Music Festival will begin in early July, featuring an lineup of performing artists from the world’s leading orchestras and music schools who share their love for chamber music each summer at TCU.
Entrepreneur Duo Launches Music Collection as Resource for Inexpensive Licensing Texas Business reports: FORT WORTH—In the industry today, there aren't a lot of options for photographers, videographers and production companies to find good music for their media needs. It's either the same overused stock music or paying thousands to license music from a big-name artist - which is obviously not practical for non-broadcast projects.Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Texas Business reports: Texas Tech University’s School of Music Summer Jazz Band will host its 28th annual Summer Jazz Festival concert at 8 p.m. June 28 in Hemmle Recital Hall.
Texas Business reports: DENTON--About 300 harpists from around the United States will gather at the University of North Texas this summer to push the boundaries of traditional harp music.
Texas Business reports: The late and legendary musician Bob Wills is the King of Western Swing -- which Texas lawmakers this week declared Texas' official music -- but it's time to pay homage to a lesser known fellow who helped Wills ascend to the throne, says a Baylor University researcher.
Marriage of Figaro. Photo by Deb Hesser, Sarasota Opera
Fort Worth Opera Announces 2012 Festival Texas Business reports: Fort Worth Opera (FWOpera) will kick off its 66th season and its sixth Festival with Puccini's blockbuster Tosca, followed by Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro.Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Texas Business reports: Distinguished neuroscientists and musicians from around the world will gather at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music June 13-17 to collaboratively explore music's role in human cognition and behavior and present the latest research findings from this emerging field of study.
Gospel Music Industry Expert Receives Award Texas Business reports: San Antonio resident Robert Darden, associate professor of journalism and media arts in the College of Arts and Sciences known for his work on Baylor University's Black Gospel Music Restoration Project, has been named the Cornelia Marschall Smith Professor of the Year. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
US Patent 7,923,616: Stringed instrument for producing precise rhythmic strumming.
Texas Business reports: A San Antonio man received a patent for inventing a new type of guitar that allows greater control of rhythm and tempos. Robert N. Hamilton received U.S. Patent 7,923,616 for “Stringed instrument for producing precise rhythmic strumming.”
Band Adds Twist to Tradition-Based Genres To the untrained ear, it may be difficult to classify the sounds of BlueSqueezeBox. Members of the Austin-based band consider themselves cabaret, but lately they’ve been playing more swing. Full Story » Leslie Hansen For Reporting Texas
Texas Business reports: The 25th Annual South By Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference and Festival is shaping up to be the biggest and best one yet. Over 13,000 music industry professionials will travel to Austin March 16 through March 19
Texas Business reports: The Austin Film Society (AFS) announced it added John Hawkes and Spoon to the line-up for the 2011 Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards.
Texas Business reports: Entergy returns as a major sponsor of this year's 27th Annual Young Texas Artists (YTA) Music Competition and Entergy Finalists' Concert & Awards to be held in March.
Dallas, Nashville law firms merge on music Texas Business notes this story by Eric Torbenson of the Dallas Morning News: In a music industry struggling to match the beat of the Internet economy, two law firms have come together over the promise of Texas.Full Story »
David Crowder. Photo by Jenna DeWitt. Copyright 2010.
Nearly 60 years ago, one Baylor student announced a football game over the radio that changed the face of Christian music.
Full Story » Jenna DeWitt, Special to Texas Business
Key download defendant says she can't pay Texas Business notes this story by UPI: A Texas woman says she is facing a bill she cannot pay in the first music downloading case to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.Full Story »
Texas Business notes this story by Carl Hoover of the Waco Tribune-Herald: Club owner and country performer Johnny Lyon, owner of Waco country nightclub the Melody Ranch during its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s, died.
Who Were The Cowboys Behind 'Cowboy Songs'? Texas Business notes this story by Hal Cannon of NPR: A hundred years ago, a collection of folk music forever re-tuned the American songbook. Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads by John A. Lomax introduced the country to the music of the American West, and helped propel the cowboy to iconic status. Full Story »
Airport pat-down inspires a song Texas Business notes this story by David Barron of the Houston Chronicle: As holiday travelers crowd into airports, lining up to be screened by the Transportation Safety Administration's infamous full-body scanners or to undergo a pat-down, they have a new anthem to express their woes.Full Story »
Allen resident hitting high notes in gospel music industry Texas Business notes this story by Katie Van Syckle of HoumaToday.com: The 46-year-old Gray native operates a gospel music label, writes songs for gospel artists like Walter Hawkins and was recently named one of Epitome Gospel Magazine's Artists to Watch in 2010.Full Story »
Reggae Fest kicks off Friday night Texas Business notes this story by Jim Beal Jr. of the San Antonio Express-News: It's fall in South Texas, but music fans can take a Jamaican vacation in place.Full Story »
Bandera Music Hall of Fame induction this Sunday Texas Business notes this story by the Bandera Bulletin: In a year of firsts, the Bandera Music History Project and Hall of Fame's new voting membership will induct six musicians and one venue as their newest honorees on Oct. 17, at 3 p.m. behind its home at the Bandera County Library.Full Story »
Stars align for Texas musical evening Texas Business notes this story by the Hays Free Press: This year’s Stars of Texas Music Legacy series will present Texas State University alumnus Randy Rogers, who will share the stage with the Trishas and Walt and Tina Wilkins for an evening of unique, Texas-inspired music. Full Story »
Chamber music concert on tap Texas Business notes this story by Brad Newman of the Amarillo Globe-News: The epic poem "Beowulf" receives a Texas Panhandle retelling in "Wolfe," which premieres this week in Amarillo.Full Story »
Daughter of conjunto music producer recalls youth Texas Business notes this story by Crystal Olvera of the Houston Chronicle: McALLEN, Texas — Juanita Garcia can still recall the smell of the freshly grilled burgers her parents used to buy her at the late Sunday afternoon tardeadas in Weslaco and Hidalgo.Full Story »
Owners of The Stage on Broadway plan Austin location Texas Business notes this story by G. Chambers Williams III of TheTennessean: The owners of Nashville's downtown live-music venue The Stage on Broadway will open a similar operation in Austin.Full Story »
Conjunto club given six months Texas Business notes this story by Scott Huddleston of the San Antonio Express-News: The Dangerous Structure Determination Board has given a West Side conjunto club six months to raise funds for repairs to avoid demolition.Full Story »
Lonestar Music Fest canceled Texas Business notes this story by San Angelo Standard-Times: The Lonestar Music Fest Back to School Bash, which was scheduled to begin at noon Saturday, has been canceled because of rainy weather.Full Story »
The Texas Heritage festival gets back to its roots Texas Business notes this story by Tim Sampson of the California Chronicle: The Texas Heritage Music Day event has gone through a number of name changes throughout its 24-year existence -- including one just this year aimed at getting back to the festival's roots.Full Story »
Rowlett Resident Nominated Best Female Artist Texas Business notes this story by LaDarien Spencer of the Star Newspapers: The South Florida Gospel Music Awards (SFGMA) nomination committee has nominated Joyce Spencer, a resident of Rowlett, Texas, as Best Female Artist.Full Story »
Stone Temple Pilots Tour Postponed Texas Business notes this story by Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly: Some five weeks into tour—and several days after an unsettling appearance in Houston, Texas—Stone Temple Pilots have officially rescheduled a dozen dates in order to “take a short break.”Full Story »
Fewer authors, more face time Texas Business notes this story by Janet Van Fleet for the Abilene Reporter-News: Over the past 10 years, the homegrown West Texas Book & Music Festival has evolved and changed from a singular literary focus to today’s broader, more encompassing viewpoint.Full Story »
Country music star shines at this year's STARS event Texas Business notes this story in the Monitor: HIDALGO – Award-winning country music sensation Martina McBride brought her “Shine All Night” tour to headline a fundraising event for a local nonprofit organization that helps thousands of students pursue higher education.Full Story »
Robert Earl Keen Concert After Astros Game Texas Business notes this story by the Cypress Herald: Country music meets baseball when Texas country music legend Robert Earl Keen performs live at Minute Maid Park on Saturday, September 18.Full Story »
Mark McKinney heads for ‘Home’ with third CD release and tour Texas Business notes this story by Eric Woods for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: On his soon-to-be-released album, Mark McKinney, takes his rootsy Red Dirt sound and mixes it with the lyrics of his life, his emotions and his experiences.Full Story »
The deep end of the music Texas Business notes this story by LaKendra Johnson of the San Angelo Standard-Times: Kelly Henson grew up between Sonora and San Angelo as a child in a musically-oriented family.Full Story »
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts announces season concert lineup Texas Business notes this story by Valerie C. Bluthardt for the San Angelo Standard-Times: Native Latin American music by the trio Chaski, brass quintet Boston Brass, the violin and piano duo Brandie Phillips and Michael Schneider, soprano Jennifer Odom and the Angelo State University music department faculty are the featured artists of the five concerts in the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts’ 2010-2011 Chamber Music Series, which begins Sunday, Sept. 19.Full Story »
Saturday’s Texas Music Throwdown benefits veterans Texas Business notes this story by Brad Meyer of The Courier of Montgomery County: There are times when wounded military veterans need to get out of the hospital, away from doctors and connect directly with nature. Full Story »
Well-traveled Granger Smith to play in Lubbock Texas Business notes this story by Sarah Scroggins of the Daily Toreador: Granger Smith picked up a guitar at the age of 15 and taught himself how to play. Now, four albums, three concert tours in Iraq and two White House performances later, Smith is quickly becoming a you-oughta-know Texas country music artist. Full Story »
Brandon Rhyder Texas Business notes this story by The Daily You: A Texas country music staple, Brandon Rhyder appreciates his time at The University of Texas of TylerFull Story »
Young Texas girl becomes singing sensation online Texas Business notes this story by Eric Aasen of the Dallas Morning News: CARROLLTON, Texas — Rhema Marvanne has produced a slick music video, appeared on a national talk show and performed across the country — all before her two front teeth have fully emerged.Full Story »
Local favorite Bowen returns with new hit single from live CD Texas Business notes this story by Eric Wood for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: He’s back in town with a new single and more from his latest live CD, “Live at Billy Bob’s Texas,” which is sure to give local Red Dirt rowdies a taste of Bowen at his best.Full Story »
Heart of Texas Country Music Museum celebrates 10th Anniversary Texas Business notes this story by the San Saba News & Star: The entertainment this year will be full of Traditional Country Music legends including The Survivors: Darrell McCall, Tony Booth and Curtis Potter with special guests Georgette Jones, Mona McCall, Justin Trevino, Frankie Miller, Kimberly Murray, Rance Norton and Landon Dodd.Full Story »
Axtell songwriter's controversial protest becomes Internet hit Texas Business notes this story by Mark Wiggins of KXXV: AXTELL - It's a debate that's held a monopoly on national headlines for weeks, and now one Central Texas woman has joined the argument with a controversial protest song that's quickly becoming an Internet sensation.Full Story »
George Jones to be inducted into Texas Country Music Hall of Fame Texas Business notes the following story by MuskogeePhoenix.com: George Jones alongside Al Dexter and Ray Winkler will be inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame Theater.Full Story »
Texas Businessnotes this story by the San Saba News & Star:Ann Thompson, the widow of Country Music Hall of Famer Hank Thompson, has commissioned Deep In The Heart Foundry in Bastrop, Texas, to create a larger than life size bronze of the country music icon.
Texas Business notes this story by Lana Sweeten-Shults of the Wichita Falls Times Record News: That’s what the audience comes to the show for ... They want to see you play your instrument,” said Sterling Abernathy, the 17-year-old stellar mandolin player with Rockin’ Acoustic Circus, just one of seven bands from Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri headed to the two-day Wichita Falls Parks & Recreation Bluegrass Festival.
Austin 'Idol' auditions start Wednesday TexasBusiness.com notes this story by USA Today: Austin, Texas, hosts the sixth batch of this summer's American Idol auditions Wednesday at the Frank Erwin Center.Full Story »
Musicians, author inducted to Conjunto Hall of Fame TexasBusiness.com notes this story by Michael Barajas in the Brownsville Herald: SAN BENITO — Four musicians and one award-winning author joined the ranks of conjunto’s most influential artists Saturday in a ceremony honoring the music’s history and pioneers.Full Story »
TexasBusiness.com recommends:Tim Halperin, a TCU grad and Fort Worth musician whose grasp on smart piano-pop is often overlooked. Thanks to a clever one-take clip, he's sure to get some traction online (indeed, as of earlier this week, it has been viewed more than 89,000 times on YouTube), reports Preston Jones of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
SXSW 2011 Open for Business TexasBusiness.com reports:South By Southwest (SXSW) Music and Media Conference and Festival is open for business at sxsw.com. SXSW 2011 will mark the 25th edition of one of the highest profile and most anticipated global cultural events on the music calendar. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
TexasBusiness.comnotes: Want to know how to tick off a funnyman quickly? Tell people not to take him seriously.
Richard "Kinky" Friedman has staked out a career generating chuckles, guffaws and belly laughs. He started out singing often-outrageous songs in the 1970s fronting one of the few Jewish country music bands, Kinky Friedman & the Texas Jewboys, reports Randy Lewis of the Los Angeles Times.
Univision agrees to pay $1M in payola settlement Univision Radio Inc., a Spanish- language broadcaster, will pay $1 million to settle claims it secretly accepted payment from a record label for playing songs on the air, including stations in San Antonio and El Paso, reports Todd Shields of Bloomberg Businessweek. Full Story »
Lochrann's Pub To Spune-Feed You An Oysterfest With Rhett Miller, Bowerbirds, Telegraph Canyon And More TexasBusiness.com notes: Frisco Irish eatery and bar Lochrann's has gained significant recognition in the last six months as it's teamed up with Spune to host some pretty cool local live performances. This September they'll pull out the big guns to establish Main Street as a competitive arts district with Lochrann's inaugural Oysterfest, reports Hollie Groos of the Dallas Observer. Full Story »
Austin Chamber Music Festival 2010 At first glance, the Austin Chamber Music Festival seems easy to grasp: 10 concerts by 10 different groups across a spectrum of performance styles and genres, all in one month, reports Michael Kellerman for the Austin Chronicle. Full Story »
Bowling For Soup: Texas rock phenoms return to pop-punk roots with new album TexasBusiness.com notes the following Texas Music Industry story: When you’re been in a band for 16 years and you’ve just finished recording your eighth studio album, there’s bound to be tons of unreleased material that ends up on the studio room floor, reports Thomas Mooney for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Full Story »
'Premios Texas' headed for Austin Austin will take center stage when KAKW Univision 62 presents its 6th annual “Premios Texas” show.Univision 62 will be hosting “Premios Texas” at the Joe and Teresa Long Center for the Performing Arts on Aug. 21. The awards program, which allows fans to vote for nominees, has been growing in profile in the last few years, reports Sandra Zaragoza of the Austin Business Journal.
Uproar Records, Student-Run Independent Record Label, Working on Second CD Release The Baylor senior walked through the double doors looking a little nervous. He clutched his guitar and sat down on the lone stool facing a panel of three judges. When the video camera started rolling he stated his name and the song he was going to sing. He closed his eyes and then filled the cold, white-walled room with heart-felt lyrics, reports Ryan Pierce for Baylor Business. Full Story »
Richardson Symphony in a showdown with musicians' union RICHARDSON – The Richardson SymphonyOrchestra is heading for a showdown. The orchestra's website announces five concerts for the 2010-11 season, but whether there will be musicians to play them is up in the air, reports Scott Cantrell of the Dallas Morning News. Full Story »
Annual TCU festival celebrates chamber music Though she lives in Cleveland, Kirsten Docter is no stranger to Texas Christian University. For the last six summers, she has made a point to visit the campus as a faculty performer at the school's Mimir Chamber Music Festival, reports DFW.com. Full Story »
Parnell headed for Texas music hall of fame Singer/songwriter Lee Roy Parnell, a Big Country native, will be inducted into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association Hall of Fame in 2011, reports the Abilene Reporter-News. Full Story »
ASCAP Initiates Infringement Actions Against San Marcos and Austin Bars ASCAP alleges the business or establishment has either publicly performed the copyrighted musical works of ASCAP's songwriter, composer and music publisher members without obtaining a license from ASCAP to do so, or had signed a license agreement with ASCAP but failed to comply with the license's payment terms. Full Story »
Oldest Outdoor Texas Musical Underway The history, tradition, pageantry, singing, dancing — and tunes from the famed calliope — are all set to come alive at the Prairie Theater in the 72nd production of the Fort Griffin Fandangle, the oldest outdoor musical in Texas. Full Story »
Lubbock Company Takes On Itunes While observers of the retail music business are focusing on Lubbock-based ScatterTunes' V-Album technology as a competitor to Apple's iTunes music store, company chief executive Witt Stewart says that's really a small part of the story. Full Story »
The Texas News Scrawl is a handy reference to storiesTexas Business recommends from other news sources. Some of the stories that Texas Business currently suggests include: Texas becomes one of 23 states to use electronic insurance proof; Emcor agrees to $455 million deal for Texas company;Volkswagen to open dealership in Waco; American Airlines To Add More Seats To 737s, MD-80s; Police officer says helicopter from gun range endangering his cattle; Contractors get OK to build new Beaumont Army Medical Center;Midland looks to join spaceport race; UTEP’s solar-powered house to compete internationally; State Farm to shutter El Paso call center; Dallas-Based Media Company Sold In $1.5 Billion Deal Austin's film catering gurus learn how to make do in a changing industry and more.
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