James White of The Broken Spoke Remembered
The Austin icon passed away in January, leaving behind a honky-tonk legacy
Austin icon James White passed away in late January, leaving behind a rich legacy at his equally iconic honky-tonk, the Broken Spoke. Founded in 1964, the dance hall hosted countless country superstars and legends over the years, including Roy Acuff, George Strait and, of course, Willie Nelson. The Redheaded Stranger first started frequenting the Broken Spoke long before he moved back to Texas from Nashville, and the venue remains one of his favorite haunts to this day. We covered the iconic hall and its owner in a 2017 photo essay for our Music + Film issue, and we’re honored to celebrate White’s legacy again today.