Events

Suggest an event

The Fortunate 500: Music stars

People in tune with the Austin music social scene

By Joe Gross
May 12, 2005

Photo by Matt Rourke/AA-S CASEY MONAHAN music/politics/media
THE FORTUNATE 500
All stars	Art stars
Music stars	Education/Charity stars
Food stars	Literary/Media stars
Heritage stars	Film stars
Business/High Tech stars	Politics/Law stars
Sports stars	Fashion stars
Part-time Austinites

Casey Monahan loves his job. Loves. It. The 45-year-old director of the Texas Music Office for the Office of the Governor is responsible for the care and feeding of Texas music -- promoting it, cataloging it, organizing it on behalf of the state government. And he loves to do it.

Monahan is so well-known that newcomers think it's a lifetime appointment. In fact, he's only had the gig since 1990, and he has to re-interview for the position whenever a new governor sets up in the Capitol. "Not many people know that I've gotten this job four times," he says.

Among other accomplishments, he and his staff have published 15 editions of the Texas Music Industry Directory and helped bring a Recording Academy (i.e. Grammy) chapter to Texas. During South by Southwest, he organized and hosted a breakfast at the Governor's Mansion for 19 of his counterparts in other countries. "I'm really proud of that one," he says with a grin.

He's constantly popping in on legislative hearings on Texas music, meeting with industry insiders across the state, talking with journalists and promoting Texas and its singular musical legacy. If there's a big function involving Texas music, you're probably going to see him there.

"What's wonderful about music is that people really are in it because they love music," Monahan says. "The end result is that the line becomes blurred between business and pleasure."

He also spent five years covering country and folk music for the American-Statesman, and back then, Monahan says he used to hit the town six nights a week. These days, he claims he can muster the strength to take in only a fraction of that music.

"I'm not the best person to ask about the nighttime social scene changes in Austin," he says. "Once I was hired to do this job, I pulled back from staying out late and began waking up at 6:30 a.m. I still love to hear live music, but I average hearing it only about once or twice a week."

And yet, you never know where he's going to turn up. You'll see him at the Cactus greeting some old friends, at Antone's checking out a new act, making the scene and figuring out what his office can do to help Texas music.

Now Playing in Central Texas Search for movies playing at theaters across Central Texas, purchase tickets, read reviews from our team of critics and leave your own review.

CENTRAL TEXAS BARS AND RESTAURANTS Find a new bar or restaurant to try tonight. Search by cuisine type, distance, location and price range. Then be sure to come back and leave a review.