James White - Broken Spoke, RIP

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 24 Jan 2021 5:09 pm

Sorry to report that James White has passed, owner of the Iconic Broken Spoke, R.I.P.

https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/jame ... -has-died/

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 24 Jan 2021 5:25 pm

My Heart is so heavy. It’s like losing a Dad; as I basically grew up at the Broken Spoke and started playing there in 1989. Bless the family heart. And don’t’ worry James; we will always sing “Sam’s Place” together; forever.
Ricky

J R Rose · Post by **J R Rose** » 24 Jan 2021 7:36 pm

So sorry to here this. I got to know James a little in my different times in Austin. He was all ways a gentleman. I loved the Broken Spoke. The greatest live music venue ever. Prayers for all of his family. RIP James. J.R. Rose

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 24 Jan 2021 9:13 pm

So sorry to hear... I played "The Spoke" a lot in my Austin years in the late '70s and early '80s and have stopped in many times to hang out since, always very grateful that it hadn't changed a bit. James deserves a lot of credit for keeping a living piece of musical history going in the midst of all that's going on around him. I'm glad that between the book and the recent movie about the place that he'll be well remembered.

Here's a link to the book on the club's website:
https://www.brokenspokeaustintx.net/pro ... spoke-book

Here's a link to the movie (the whole thing on youtube):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSlhLoeYHFY

Roy Carroll · Post by **Roy Carroll** » 25 Jan 2021 8:17 am

Very Sorry to hear the loss. Prayers for the family and his girls, as they were tight with James.
I played there in the early 70's many many times with Bill Henderson and the Sundowners. I played there with Wynn Stewart and he had Ralph Moonie on steel. We actually made it on the wall in the museum. Good times in the hayday of country music.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 25 Jan 2021 3:19 pm

I was afraid this day would come because James has been suffering from a deterioration of his heart condition for over a month now. The last year of shutdown has been tough on all the clubs here in town, the Spoke has been no exception. It's been a strain on everybody.

I've played the Broken Spoke with Alvin Crow, Johnny Bush, Gary P. Nunn and others since 1974... what is that? Forty-seven years? James White was a longtime friend with a smiling face, gleam in his eye, and either a hug or a warm outstretched hand every time I was there, gigging or just hanging out and eating a chicken-fried steak. I've been a guest in his home and at his ranch. Been to his daughters' weddings. I felt like family and the club was my home away from home.

I hope from the bottom of my heart that Annetta and Ginny keep the club going, because losing the Spoke would be a major disaster to the already decimated country music scene in Austin. It is the Last of the Mohicans here, I do believe.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 25 Jan 2021 4:05 pm

Looks like a great piece of American history and a country music whose who. Let's hope the family can keep it going. Rip James.

Jerry Fessenden · Post by **Jerry Fessenden** » 25 Jan 2021 4:39 pm

So sorry to see this . Herb is right ...One great place , I played with Alvin Crow too. Also, The best chicken fried steak in Texas.

W. C. Edgar · Post by **W. C. Edgar** » 25 Jan 2021 8:05 pm

RIP James White
Thanks for being a friend, liking my music, and making us all feel at home whether picking in the Spoke or getting hammered drunk with Dale Watson LOL
Safe travels up yonder pal.
Your friend
WC Edgar

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 26 Jan 2021 4:31 am

I just re-watched the documentary last night "Honky Tonk Heaven' on Amazon Prime video, It serves as a nice tribute to the Broken Spoke and James.

Sadly I never got to go there.