Day of the Dead Exhibition - 2021
dia de los muertos
Ada Anderson
October 2, 1921 - June 3, 2021
Civil rights activist and arts advocate, Ada Anderson was the first African American to be elected to the Austin Community College Board and founded the Leadership Enrichment Arts Program. Ada was inducted into the Texas Black Women’s Hall of Fame and the African American Women’s Hall of Fame for her life work in 1965.
Denny Freeman
August 7, 1944 - April 25, 2021
Guitar, piano, and electronic organ player, Denny Freeman began his music career early on in life. Moving to Austin in 1970, Denny joined groups and supported other artists, including Bob Dylan. While living in Los Angeles, Denny joined Taj Mahal from 1992 - 2004, winning a Grammy for Shoutin’ in Key. Denny was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2010.
Jan Reid
March 18, 1945 – September 19, 2020
Jan Reid was an award-winning journalist, biographer, and novelist. He was a lead contributing editor for Texas Monthly, a freelancer for various other magazines, and author of 12 fiction and non-fiction books.
Oscar Frederic Moore
December 25, 1916 – October 8, 1981
Austin-born Oscar Moore was an American jazz guitarist who performed with the Nat King Cole Trio. He also performed with his brother in Johnny Moore's Three Blazers and with his own trio.
Charley Pride
March 18, 1934 - December 12, 2020
American singer, guitarist, and professional baseball player, Charley Pride was the best-selling performer for RCA Records during the mid-1970s. Originally from Mississippi, Charley often performed at Austin's Soap Creek Saloon and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Frame in 2000 and performed the national anthem at game six of the 1980 World Series.
Dub Rose
1947-December 20, 2020
Born in San Antonio, Dub Rose served under many titles throughout his career, including "Deputy Dub", head of security at the Armadillo World Headquarters, Carpentry Foreman and Director of Physical Plant Services for Austin Community College, and as Head Grouch in the neck building department for Collings Guitars.
Jerry Jeff Walker
March 16, 1942 – October 23, 2020
Jerry Jeff Walker was an American country music and folk singer-songwriter. He was a leading figure in the outlaw country music movement and was best known for having written the 1968 song "Mr. Bojangles".
Powell St. John
September 18, 1940 – August 22, 2021
Powell St. John was a songwriter, musician, storyteller, and visionary artist who played alongside a young Janis Joplin in the Waller Creek Boys and wrote songs for psychedelic rock pioneers the 13th Floor Elevators.
Chencho Flores
June 2, 1929 - January 10, 2021
With an eight-decade-long career, Chencho Flores was active in the local community playing with Conjunto Los Pinkys and others. Known for bringing a crowd together through his music, Chencho was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame as well as the Tejano R.O.O.T.S Hall of Fame in 2020.
James White
April 12, 1939 - January 24, 2021
Owner of Broken Spoke, James White was a supporter of country music locally, nationally, and internationally. James booked stars including Willie Nelson, Bob Wills, Dolly Parton, Ray Price, Ernest Tubb, and George Strait, alongside a regular roster of beloved locals, not only for Austinites but tourists from around the globe.
Margaret Wright
February 21, 1942 - December 6, 2020
Pianist and vocalist Margaret Wright was a joyous entertainer whose long career represented the enduring legacy of an East Austin she witnessed being erased. She was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2015.
Riley Osbourn
January 29, 1947 – August 25, 2020
Riley Osbourn was a lauded pianist who recorded and toured with dozens of local and national acts including Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Marcia Ball, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Robert Earl Keen across a five-decade career.
Biographies written by AusPop Executive Director and Curator, Leea Mechling
Exhibition created by Janette Núñez and Rebecca Wells for Digital Libraries, School of Information, the University of Texas at Austin