Legendary Texas musician performs at ARC
When the Austin, Texas, music scene was simmering in the 1970s, Bob Livingston was there. The singer-songwriter was instrumental in creating the full-blown music stew-pot that Texas music is today. A Texas native, Livingston has played with the likes of Leon Russell, Garth Brooks, Guy Clark, Roger Miller, Michael Martin Murphey and Jerry Jeff Walker. He continues to write and perform and will perform at the Artist Retreat Center in Bella Vista at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18.
It was Livingston, Murphey, Walker, Gary P. Nunn and a handful of other Texas music-makers, who founded the Lost Gonzo Band in the 70s and helped make venues like the Armadillo World Headquarters and Rome Inn famous. The music of the Last Gonzo Band, Willie Nelson and other Texas players forged the way for progressive country and outlaw rock and put Austin on the map as a music Mecca, a title that it still maintains. Without the influence of these and other 70s musicians, Austin would likely be just another town in Texas. But the roots put down by these seminal songwriters and performers, has afforded the city a non-stop pilgrimage of music fans.
Just like Austin, Livingston has maintained. Last year, he was inducted into the Texas Music Hall of Fame. More of a “cosmic cowboy” — a moniker that has stuck with him since the 70s — Livingston’s music leans a bit more toward ballads than rowdy Texas outlaw.
Livingston currently plays select U.S. venues and tours internationally and continues to write his own songs. His 2011 album “Gypsy Alibi” was named Album of the Year in 2011 by the Texas Music Awards. In addition to his songwriting and performing, he is working on a book about his colorful career as a musician in the early Texas and California music scenes. The book is scheduled for release in 2018.
Livingston puts on an entertaining live music show and has even been known to give his audiences a lesson in yodeling from the stage.
“Some artists transcend the mundane with pure genius. Bob Livingston is one of those artists,” Chris Harkness, No Depression magazine.
The Artist Retreat Center is at 13467 Lookout Drive in Bella Vista. For more information, call 479-268-6463. Tickets for the Bob Livingston concert are $15 and should be purchased in advance from the ArtistRetreatCenter.com website or the Artist Retreat Center Facebook page.