I'm Willie Nelson. I am what I am," he says. Ruling the roost is an unpopular business, and over the years, O'Connor's reputation has often overshadowed his accomplishments. The Backyard at Bee Cave, with its live oaks and star-speckled sky, was OConnors crown jewel. Id sure like to play your joint, said Willie, who was growing out his hair and looking for new audiences. One pulled out a knife, Tim pulled out a gun. You? . Because if you're detected and manage to pierce the bottom of that larger national company's canopy, they're going to come after you.". And while monopolies are generally bad for the consumer, in the concert business, they tend to work to the ticket buyer's advantage: Promoters paying less for shows typically pass it on to the consumer to increase attendance and thus increase alcohol sales and other ancillary revenue. Strength in numbers now meant they weren't bidding against each other, so the only venue Pace could book without working with the newly formed collective was the Erwin Center. "The way to make money is to offer a drive-through viewing. O'Connor denies critics' claims that he's used Pace's muscles to target Stubb's and Liberty Lunch, and maintains that the increased competition he's seen in the past few years has done more to hurt the local concert business than help his own. "Willie had long been my songwriting hero," explains O'Connor, "and out of the blue, he just walked in, asked for me, and said, 'Hi. Gail O'Connor's Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday, March 3, 2019 from 5:30 to 9:00 pm at The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St. , Austin, TX. Timothy J. O'Connor, 78, of Mentor-on-the-Lake, passed away Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, at his residence. We will miss you and love you always, MeMe. Separated from his wife, the couple later returned to Kansas to try and make the marriage work. I wanna work your joint.'". Things are moving that quickly.". The Backyard had about 10 good years until the Shops of the Galleria began encroaching, eventually eating up most of the parking by its 2005 completion. "It took until I lived there to understand how unique the city is. "We had the town in a headlock," Ramsey says. After roughly 26 months in an adoption facility, he was adopted and given the surname O'Connor. ", When the Armadillo finally ended its storied, decade-long run in late 1980, the Opera House was seen by many locals as the last gasp of "Old Austin. Search O'Connor is survived by his wife Sheila MacLurg O'Connor, his son Timothy O'Connor, and three stepsons. After recuperating, O'Connor returned to staging benefits and working with Nelson. But they all turned to shit. Bobbie was preceded in death by her husband, Curly OConnor in 1974; her son, Arvel Franklin; and her parents, Frank and Louise Cole; and two brothers. Now, as his relationship with SFX, the country's largest concert promoter, nears contractual completion, the impact of O'Connor's retirement on the local promotions pool is unknown. "I'm dealing with the agents on both venues and putting the show where they'll be best presented. Watching football and repairing anything that needed it were among his favorite things to do, as well as playing cards with many of their friends. Since O'Connor and Jones both describe their relationship as "father-son," the latter equally close friends with Attal, Jones has been the architect of what could be the new Ivory Tower collective -- a centralized effort from Stubb's, MiddleMan Music, and Direct Events. Soon married with a baby, he returned to California, where he eventually wound up laying drainage pipe in the Mojave Desert. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Download it here. I have very little patience for people that fool around in this business or just want to make a buck.". When OConnor passed away from Hodgkins lymphoma in July 2021 at age 76, the music community went into mourning. O'Connor was left holding the market share of shows in Austin. But it's time to clear the air and say the driving force I have at this point is merely wanting to grow old gracefully. In 1960, after eight months of marching with a weighted backpack and an M-1 rifle, O'Connor and several other cadets broke ranks, literally running away and leading police on a manhunt. By flying around the country to meet with agents and sending follow-up packages of barbecue, Attal has earned a reputation within the industry as a dedicated player. O'Connor is the first to admit the combination of Pace's deep pockets and his own long-term connections represents a serious hurdle for competing Austin venues. Recovering from triple-bypass surgery, OConnor opened up to writer Andy Langer in a rare Send In the Clowns manner. "When I was there, my goal was to mediate and to make sure everything made money," says Hauser, a booking agent at the William Morris Agency's Nashville office. "He'd sign hundreds of dollar bills and tell the bank president he could come to whatever shows he wanted.". In a press release, APA! Private Messages He is survived by his . Timothy F. O'Connor Obituary. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. AUSTIN, TexasAn integral part of Texas history, Tim OConnor, the creator of Austin Music Hall, Austin Opry House and more, passed away this summer of Hodgkins lymphoma. "I met Willie in San Antonio to apologize to him," recalls the promoter of his last move before leaving Austin. Guestbook Condolences Memorial Donation. He also produces classy and smooth-running shows; as with the Backyard, acts that play Stubb's tell their agents they want to return. "That wasn't the bottom line with Tim, though. Jones started answering phones for Direct Events in 1993, and just three years later was La Zona Rosa's general manager. A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austins independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the communitys political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Keever Mortuary, Inc.. All Rights Reserved.Funeral Home Website by Batesville | Funeral Planning and Grief Resources. Timothy worked for Kimbrell Farms for ten years as a service tech. While they appear to be getting along famously, neither side denies their relationship is still a house of cards. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. First there was the Two River Canyon Amphitheater in 2003, a gorgeous 800-acre setting near OConnors Spicewood ranch with the potential to thrill festgoers for decades. Tim was born in Queens, NY and moved to Yulee 18 years ago from Clearwater, FL. "I do think it's going to work to the consumer's benefit," reasons Attal, who now shares office space with Jones. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. "The acoustics were horrible, and it was just this terribly hot, smoke-filled room.". Chris OConnor passed away at his home on Thursday, January 28, 2016. At a benefit in Monterey, O'Connor collapsed onstage. Indeed, says Steve Hauser, if you're looking for O'Connor's legacy, look toward his lack of patience for part-timers and carpetbaggers. "I'm open to the possibility we can do something collectively that we can't on our own -- to protect the Austin market," reasons O'Connor. He was surrounded by family and friends. Even today, promoters often walk away at the end of the year making as little as 5% of the door's receipts. Has Alejandro Escovedo ever sounded better than on the Sunday nights that closed SXSW? Tim O'Connor, longtime club owner, music entrepreneur and erstwhile promoter of Austin music, partner of Willie Nelson as a director of the famed Fourth of July picnics, has died. Although O'Connor admits there's still "conversations at different levels" about how the deal might be salvaged, he says a group of well-financed smaller promoters could perhaps team up to purchase the Backyard. Timothy David Scott O'Connor On Friday September 30, 2022, Timothy O'Connor passed away at the age of 39. "I didn't have much fear and figured I didn't need to take much guidance from anyone else.". I met Tim the very first morning I spent in Austin on July 14, 1972, in front of a small folk club he owned called Castle Creek. Although O'Connor believed he could build a venue that reflected "Old Austin," his venue was at least 15 minutes away from downtown. The deal Willie made with Terrace Motel owner Dude McCandless included 14 acres on South Congress at Academy for just over a million dollars. and yea.the gun.timc/s, This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. What O'Connor didn't know was they'd since befriended another fledgling band, Buffalo Springfield, and as word of the two bands' association spread, the show sold out on the belief Stephen Stills and company would show up to jam. When the lease ran out on the other half in 2008, the Backyard closed and work soon-after started on a bigger, better Backyard about a mile west on TX 71, on land bought by billionaire John Paul DeJoria. Young told him it was a bird nest on the ground -- he'd only need to pick up the eggs. O'Connor isn't serious, but given his thoughts of retirement and recent run of heart troubles, he's indeed been spending time pondering his legacy. Receive a notification when services are updated. Tim O'Connor believes his funeral will be like many other events he's staged: well-attended. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. "I wanted a fight.". quips O'Connor. When Attal was paying for his own meet-and-greet trips to the coasts, Jones was meeting agents on O'Connor's dime. They did. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www . "I realized long ago that music was the nighttime job and that you had to be making money during the day," reveals O'Connor. Family and friends can send flowers and/or light a candle as a loving gesture for their loved one. One night they'd be working against nuclear weaponry, the next for prison reform. Few salesmen in any industry deal so long with so many customers that don't know their name. Audiences were either pin-drop quiet or bouncing off the walls. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. His draw often kept the doors open.". You have to build a base on a fixed income so if you lose it on the concert side you don't go bust.". Visitation for friends and family will be held from 6:00 pm 8:00 pm on Friday, June 2, 2006, at Wilke-Clay-Fish Funeral Home. He was a 1972 graduate of Barr Reeve High School. Like Willie Nelson, Tim OConnor is a huge part of Austin music history. to help find a new home for them. I remember certain nights with Steve Goodman or John Prine where I physically threw people out for talking. Although the Backyard wound up proving Austinites would indeed go out of their way for atmosphere and talent, O'Connor's next move brought him downtown. When OConnor bought the building at 208 Nueces in Sept. 1994, the Austin Music Hall was its fourth venue that year. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. I think Ill let you negotiate all my deals with Columbia, was Willies response. The only way for promoters to make real money is on ancillary goods and services: alcohol, food, a percentage of a band's merchandising, and ticket fees. Like Willie Nelson, Tim O'Connor is a huge part of Austin music history. Bobbie was preceded in death by her husband, Curly O Connor in 1974; her son, Arvel Franklin; and her parents, Frank and Louise . It started with a love of music.James Timothy OConnor, his adopted name, came to Austin in 1972 to open Castle Creek with his Colorado buddy Doug Moyes. He enjoyed brewing wine, bee keeping, hunting, fishing, gardening, and pigeon racing. mother Elizabeth (Penny) O'Connor, 2 brothers, Tim O'Connor, Argyle, Texas and Kevin O'Connor and wife Laura, New Mexico, three nephews, Ryan, Matt and Jeffrey O'Connor . Chris was preceded in death by his father Joseph L. OConnor. And just what might that be? Even so, merely owning La Zona added value to Direct Events. He's been zealously drug- and alcohol-free ever since. Individuals can donate to APA! said it is asking for donations to reimburse TRAPRS for the $2,800 spent. Maldonado Construction had the biggest claim- $334,000 for work building detention ponds and roads and supplying utilities at the new Backyard. Willie is the Muhammad Ali of white people, yet running in tandem with his crowd is a something a lot of people can't do.". OConnors best decade was the 90s, when his Direct Events opened the Backyard in 93, the Austin Music Hall in 94 and revived La Zona Rosa in 97. "Anytime someone was more than 90 days behind on rent, I'd go down and take their front door off the hinges and hold it in the office until they'd settle up," O'Connor says. OBITUARY Maureen Margaret O'Connor . Midway through producing the second Farm Aid, at Manor Downs in 1985, O'Connor got the news his daughter had passed away. It's a move that gives Attal year-round booking clout and has already resulted in both La Zona Rosa and Stubb's paying lower prices for shows. I'll never forget Willie's answer. He's equal parts Tony Soprano and Bill Graham. Tim passed away this summer leaving behind his beloved dogs Bobbie & Yoyo. He was born on June 14, 1983, in Santa Rosa, California. It had spread for as long as six months undetected, and surgeons removed not just a testicle, but also portions of his small and large intestines. Search Austin obituaries and condolences, hosted by Echovita.com. "I think a fair amount of folks will come," he says. Whether or not it's renewed, SFX's power is intimidating. i fuckin' miss that guy. His parents preceded him in death. But even after all that, OConnor refused to retire, working on a venue in Driftwood until that deal fell through. said Bobbie and Yoyo are now available for foster and adoption. No non-musician has had more impact on the Austin scene than Tim OConnor- and he had to leave town for two prime years in the 70s. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. APA! ESPN analysts say Urban Meyer should be fired for viral dancing video, Police say former NASCAR driver attacked ex-wife with hatchet before being shot, Dallas-area mother rents billboard next to AT&T Stadium to raise awareness about fake pills laced with fentanyl, 8 state propositions will be on the ballot this Election Day. Turns out O'Connor had shot a label executive with CBS Records, with whom Nelson had just signed. He also volunteers that he's probably amassed as many enemies as friends. I never heard him not paying an artist or cheating a partner. has started a fundraiser to help reimburse those fees- which is estimated to be about $2800- and is asking the public for any interest to help Bobbie and Yoyo get fostered or adopted. "What do I want you to be?" Skeptics, on the other hand, said concertgoers wouldn't drive that far for a show, particularly from North Austin. Join In Colorado, O'Connor was offered a deal for a restaurant/bar/apartment combo along I-70, in the mountains not far from Winter Park. By sixth grade,. According to the website, Bobbie Nelsonis just over 2 years old. I'm sure that's what made his career.' View The Obituary For Christopher Joseph O"Connor. O'Connor's contract with one of the country's largest promoters is due to expire in December. Great story Stu, Mike F. is a great soulful singer! The tale of Tim O'Connor starts with a Baby Doe born in Great Bend, Kansas. Then, AMHII was torn down in 2016 to make room for a 28-story office building called Third + Shoal. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. Can't keep up with happenings around town? with all my heart. O'Connor may have entered the Nineties knee-deep in debt to the IRS, but at least the Eighties were behind him. "A stray bullet was fired and went into somebody's leg. He was born in Clinton County, Missouri, Nov. 10, 1931 to B. T. and Agnes OConnor. Who's gonna do it? Check out the rescue video: https://t.co/HdqwH1zKJo Help out today by donating to their rescue and care: https://t.co/H4ndUa1g7M pic.twitter.com/PBL0nIXOWm, Willie Nelsons daughters and OConnors goddaughters, Paula and Amy Nelson, were able to find homes for four of them.