"He called me into his office and said, 'Tim, I just want to let you know I think you did a great job, but I think you're maybe just a little ahead of us. Timothy James O'Connor, 65, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, April 16, 2015 with his family by his side. Three years later, O'Connor's life changed again, this time by his own choice. Now, O'Connor owned and operated four different venues with four different configurations: a 3,000-seat indoor room, a 4,000-seat outdoor space, a 1,400-seat indoor venue, and a smaller club-sized room within La Zona. If youre not prepared to put half your money in a suitcase and throw it off the tallest building, kid, you dont have what it takes to be a concert promoter.. "Tim and Willie were an odd couple," says Arlyn's Freddy Fletcher, Nelson's nephew. No services are scheduled at this time. The tale of Tim O'Connor starts with a Baby Doe born in Great Bend, Kansas. Who Receive obituaries Sandra Lucille Hidrogo February 20, 2023 (81 years old) Like Lance Armstrong, OConnor just couldnt walk away from the action, and suffered the consequences. The Austin Music Hall was repossesssed in 2012 by OmniBank, which lent OConnor the money for the razing and rebuilding. "I do think it's going to work to the consumer's benefit," reasons Attal, who now shares office space with Jones. Its been renovated once again and is currently renting out for private parties. He's maybe a little crusty,'" laughs O'Connor. What few of these people will do, however, is tell these stories on the record. When Tim died, there wasnt a word in the Chronicle or Statesman, and still hasnt been to my knowledge. His warning shot ended up going through a mobile recording trailer on the street and hitting the leg of a Columbia Records executive inside. Like Willie Nelson, Tim O'Connor is a huge part of Austin music history. Backed by the national clout of Pace, now part of the larger SFX group, O'Connor believes he's been able to bring more shows to town at competitive prices. Who Receive obituaries Alfred Herman Bohot February 25, 2023 (93 years old) "The way to make money is to offer a drive-through viewing. ', "I think somewhere along the way, people that know me labeled me as a guy that if I said I'd do it, I did it -- at all costs. He knew that you didn't always have to make money, that you have to give great product. With Nelson's own tax problems, O'Connor didn't have time to implement his traditional Plan B and wound up selling the Opera House at a "fire-sale" price. If producing five nights at Madison Square Garden wasn't experience enough, O'Connor found himself immersed in a contact sport; By working closely with artists like Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne for charitable causes, he was rapidly building a national network of artists, managers, and booking agents. Then there are those that "respect" him too much to dredge up the past, those content with allowing O'Connor to spin his own story, particularly considering he's on the cusp of retirement and still recuperating from triple-bypass surgery. O'Connor controlled the Opera House, routinely dealing with Houston-based powerhouse Pace Productions and their Austin liaison, Steve Hauser. "You have to create a niche that's so protected and specialized that it doesn't draw too much attention. Bobbie is one of Tim O'Connor's dogs that is seeking a new home. and TRAPRS joined hands for this rescue operation, which was filmed by Amy and sharedonline. To maintain a relationship between his people and that wonderful bunch of Damon Runyan characters that hang around Willie still impresses me. It's about the excitement. He brought a level of professionalism to local concert promotion previously unseen, not to mention a wealth of shows unlike anything Austin had ever experienced. ", 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. 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. When my lawyer got done kicking me in the leg, that's when things really went downhill," recalls O'Connor. He knew he'd been sick for some time, but blamed it on exhaustion. "There would be many times we'd be screaming across the table at each other, and 20 minutes later it would be hugs and kisses. He does it because he loves music and loves the game.". In those days, nobody in Nelson's Family had a title: If you had to ask for one, he didn't need you. He saw the acts being booked at the Creek- John Prine, Guy Clark, Steve Goodman, Steve Fromholz, Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, etc.- and knew his songs were right for the room. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. TRAPRS helped provide boarding, rehabilitation and training for Bobbie and Yoyo. With the $60,000 those lots sold for, the Austin Opera House was up and running. "I always wanted to sit behind my desk and be able to tell some artist that had me pulling all the red M&M's out of the bag that he'd never play in this town again.". So much so, in fact, that Attal has pried a sizable amount of shows away from Direct Events. "'I think I'm going to let you negotiate all my contracts with CBS.'". O'Connor claims it's a mystery to him why the deal came off the table, but he maintains the negotiation process hinged on design. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. The son of Charles and Gladys (Farrell) O'Connor was born on October 14, 1949 in Appleton. On the day Tim died and they took him away, Bruiser chased the car for miles. Few salesmen in any industry deal so long with so many customers that don't know their name. He was king of the roadshow in town for a quarter century, from 1977 until his protege Charlie Jones and Charles Attal took over in 2002 with the Austin City Limits Music Festival and aggressive bookings all over town. We are sad to announce that on March 18, 2021 we had to say goodbye to Timothy F. O'Connor of Big Flats, New York, born in Niagara Falls, New York. It's not about the extra dollar. 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. to the Family. "His Willie thing was a phenomenon," exclaims Wilson. "I think Tim always had the best understanding of what the consumer wanted and how to deliver it. Please join us in Loving, Sharing and Memorializing Christopher Joseph O"Connor on this permanent online memorial. I know what I'm going to pay and that's it. Born Sept. 23, 1943, in San Bernadino, Calif., he had been a . Young told him it was a bird nest on the ground -- he'd only need to pick up the eggs. For more information on these two furry friends and how you can help, visit APA! Ann Richards in shorts, reading the. Maldonado Construction had the biggest claim- $334,000 for work building detention ponds and roads and supplying utilities at the new Backyard. AUSTIN, Texas Tim O'Connor, owner of The Backyard, Austin Music Hall and other live music venues in Austin, died on July 30 from Hodgkin's lymphoma. Although O'Connor did some settling in before utilizing similarly strong-arm tactics in Austin, his arrival was still relatively splashy. He graduated from Plattsburg High School in 1949, and farmed with his father until he joined the US Air Force in 1952. The Nelsons reached out to Austin Pets Alive! The deal Willie made with Terrace Motel owner Dude McCandless included 14 acres on South Congress at Academy for just over a million dollars. Example video title will go here for this video, AUSTIN, Texas Tim OConnor, owner of The Backyard, Austin Music Hall and other live music venues in Austin, died on July 30 from Hodgkin's lymphoma. "It wasn't what they wanted to hear," remembers O'Connor, "but I told them they had a very awkward room that I'd close and start completely over with. You are invited to a reception following the graveside service at the funeral home. Family and friends can send flowers and/or light a candle as a loving gesture for their loved one. She is survived by 2 daughters, Sheila Ham and Janet OConnor; 2 sisters and 4 brothers; 10 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren and a host of other family members. quips O'Connor. "The screaming, the reputation, a lot of that was a front," asserts Gonzalez. Has Alejandro Escovedo ever sounded better than on the Sunday nights that closed SXSW? *Please note that the service will not be at a Keever facility, so please have flowers sent directly to the Hilco Event Center in Itasca.*. O'Connor may have entered the Nineties knee-deep in debt to the IRS, but at least the Eighties were behind him. His parents preceded him in death. By his own admission, he's been quick-tempered, cold, and generally disagreeable for much of his career. In the press release, APA! He had a whole pack of big, beautiful canines on his ranch far west of Austin. He loved all of his family and the times they spent together. "It wasn't by design, but it worked out that way.". He was born in Clinton County, Missouri, Nov. 10, 1931 to B. T. and Agnes OConnor. Timothy F. O'Connor Obituary. "We had to keep taking things up a notch -- sound, promotion, overall presentation. And to some degree, it's also about admitting what I've done wrong. Tim O'Connor, Direct Events, The Backyard, The Austin Music Hall, La Zona Rosa, Castle Creek, The Austin Opera House, Pace Concerts, SFX, Willie Nelson, Information is power. 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 OConnor, II, 51, passed away on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 in Ennis, Texas. 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. It started out as Acropolis dance club, then was Blind Alley for a couple months, and then saw the return of promoter Jim Ramsey with Rivers Edge. He's equal parts Tony Soprano and Bill Graham. Of course, I didn't really go anywhere. Chris was preceded in death by his father Joseph L. OConnor. "While his was a closed shop, you could walk into the Opera House, cut a deal, and get your feet wet as a promoter. 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. OBITUARY Maureen Margaret O'Connor . Twitter). The last act to play La Zona Rosa under OConnors ownership was Prince at SXSW 2013. A celebration of her life will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, June 3, at Wilke-Clay-Fish Funeral Home. His goal was to come out of a negotiation less battered than the other guy. "It got me thinking.". Better yet, while studying the plots they'd just bought, O'Connor found an additional 13 lots they'd inherited through a sale the bank hadn't covered in the mortgage. While he's used venues like the Mercury and Antone's to stage larger shows in the off-season, he also runs the risk those clubs will eventually cut him out of the deal. It doesn't take much asking around for folks to recall the first time he screamed at them, or the first time they witnessed him either stand on his desk to make a point, or clear it with the sweep of an arm. Services will be 2:00 pm, Saturday, February 6, 2016 at Beck Funeral Home, 1700 E. Whitestone, Cedar Park, Texas 78613. It didn't, and at 22, he moved to Colorado while his family left for Atlanta. Kansas State University was the next institution to ask O'Connor not to return. "When Willie and I needed to deal with banks, we'd be sure to pull up in front with the bus," explains O'Connor. Both are now available for adoption. Find an obituary, get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers or gifts in memory of a loved one. And honestly, for me, it wasn't about money in the end. We will miss you and love you always, MeMe. Please, Like Lance Armstrong, OConnor just couldnt walk away from the action, and suffered the consequences. Then came the mall that swallowed our idyllic music setting. What it boiled down to was simple: the collective could pool connections and resources to produce bigger and better shows with more frequency then they could on their own. On the road, O'Connor got his hands dirty re-wiring sound systems and handling payouts, but his stint with Nelson was short-lived. Over the last few years, we've been killing ourselves.". Located on Fourth at Rio Grande, an area that looked like where the mob dumped bodies, the Red Zone was inspired by crazy bordertown cafe/bars, with decor (black velvet paintings, bright colors, weird rectangle cutaways) that made someone dub it PeeWees Whorehouse. I ordered the truckstop enchiladas every time, so I cant tell you about the rest of the menu. "Not controlling your own destiny is a distinct disadvantage," says O'Connor. exceeds goal to save at-risk pups. "I'll tell you the three things I never want you to be: cold, wet, or hungry.". That wouldnt last long. At this point, there's no timeframe on how long Attal and O'Connor will continue working together. After graduation in 1963, he decided to tempt fate and stay in-state, attending Monterey Peninsula Junior College. He was of the Catholic Faith. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. It was a messy end to an empire that raised the standard of professionalism in local concert presentations. 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. Meanwhile, Backyard at Bee Cave is a development moving forward with plans to open a 3,500-capacity Live Oak Amphitheater in 2024. He sees it as a return to the free flow of information that he found in the Castle Creek days. "Once upon a time, we were all fighters that ruled our own little neighborhoods," says Threadgill's Eddie Wilson, who once competed with O'Connor at the Armadillo. It was there in the former Chequered Flag folk club on Lavaca, that OConnor met new Austin resident Willie Nelson. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. Willie's hippies may have gotten along with the Opera House staff, but promoters running in tandem with O'Connor often found the going difficult, to say the least. 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. Midway through producing the second Farm Aid, at Manor Downs in 1985, O'Connor got the news his daughter had passed away. (Austin Pets Alive! He went on to receive and Associates Degree from TSTC. Tim O'Connor, who died in July, had two dogs, Bobbie Nelson and Yoyo Nelson. and formed what later became known as the Ivory Tower collective. Just as vital to Direct Events' success has been O'Connor's agreement with Pace Productions for the Music Hall and Backyard. APA! Timothy Joseph O'Connor (July 3, 1927 - April 5, 2018) was an American character actor known for his prolific work in television, although he made only a few appearances after the early 1990s. TIMOTHY O'CONNOR OBITUARY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Chris was born on July 27, 1959 in Houston, Texas to Joseph L. OConnor and Elizabeth (Penny) Powell OConnor. Can't keep up with happenings around town? I'll never forget Willie's answer. He grew up in Jackson, NJ, and attended Jackson Memorial High School, followed by Belmont Abbey College . CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. Weed Corley Fish Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. January 1993, they bought 13 acres in Bee Caves and began work on the Backyard and its Live Oak Amphitheater, a nearly 3,000-seat outdoor venue. This was one of those nights. Even today, promoters often walk away at the end of the year making as little as 5% of the door's receipts. He is preceded in death by his brother, Thomas OConnor, his foster-father, Billy Bowden and step mother, Kay OConnor. He was a 1972 graduate of Barr Reeve High School. But a couple disastrous decisions- rebuilding the Austin Music Hall in 2007 and the Backyard in 2010- cant put a lien on the memories he created in the years between the 1972 opening of Castle Creek and the 2008 closing of the original Backyard. My contracts with CBS. ' '' reception following the graveside service the. That he found in the leg, that OConnor met new Austin resident Willie,! 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tim o'connor obituary austin tx
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