James White, Owner of Austin’s Broken Spoke Honky Tonk, Dies

James White, founder and owner of Austin’s popular honky-tonk the Broken Spoke, died Sunday (Jan. 24), according to a Facebook post made by the company. He was 81.

White founded the Broken Spoke in 1964 in South Lamar, a neighborhood in south Austin, Texas. George Strait, Willie Nelson, Bob Wills, Kris Kristofferson, Garth Brooks, The Chicks, Midland, and many others frequented the Broken Spoke; with Nelson including scenes at the venue in his 1980 movie Honeysuckle Rose. Strait featured a photo of the Broken Spoke for the cover of his 2019 album, Honky Tonk Time Machine.

In 2016, White starred in Honky-Tonk Heaven: Legend of the Broken Spoke, a documentary about the iconic venue. The Broken Spoke was inducted into the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame in 2010.

No memorial details have been revealed at press time.

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LB Cantrell

LB Cantrell is Director of Content at MusicRow magazine. She oversees all MusicRow-related content, including managing the editorial team. Cantrell manages the MusicRow social media accounts, head up specific, large-scale projects for the company, and assist in day-to-day operations. She also manages all MusicRow memberships, and facilitates the company’s annual events, including the MusicRow Awards, CountryBreakout Awards and Rising Women on the Row. Cantrell graduated from the Recording Industry Management program at Middle Tennessee State University.

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