Bio
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Wyatt McSpadden, photographer
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JOE NICK PATOSKI is in his fourth decade writing about Texas and Texans. He has authored and co-authored biographies on Selena and Stevie Ray Vaughan, both published by Little, Brown and Company and the coffeetable books Texas Mountains, Texas Coast, and Big Bend National Park all published by the University of Texas Press. He spent 18 years as a staff writer for Texas Monthly and more recently has written for the Texas Observer, National Geographic, No Depression, People magazine, Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine, Field & Stream, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the Big Bend Sentinel, Southwest Spirit, American Way, the Austin Chronicle, Harp, and TimeOut New York, and other publications. He also contributed an essay to the photo book Conjunto by John Dyer, also published by University of Texas Press.
In 2003-4, he recorded the oral histories of B.B. King, Clarence Fountain of the Blind Boys of Alabama, Memphis musician and producer Jim Dickinson, Tejano superstar Little Joe Hernandez, and 15 other subjects for the Voice of Civil Rights oral history project, some of which appeared in the book My Soul Looks Back in Wonder by Juan Williams, published by Sterling, and rode on the The Voices of Civil Rights bus tour, a 70 day journey across the nation where personal oral histories on civil rights were collected for the Library of Congress.
His biography of Willie Nelson will be published this spring by Little, Brown & Company. An avid swimmer and kayaker, he lives near the village of Wimberley in the Texas Hill Country.
Books:
- Willie Nelson: An Epic Life The book is in many ways the culmination of my writings about music, Texas, and Texans. [Little, Brown & Company, April 2008] Order the book from Amazon here
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- Big Bend National Park University of Texas Press, 2006
- Texas Coast University of Texas Press, 2005
- Texas Mountains, University of Texas Press, 2001
- Selena: Como La Flor, Little, Brown & Company, 1996 (“If you’re going to buy one Selena biography, this one is it,” Cristina Saralegui, the Cristina Show, Univision; excerpted for VH1′s “Behind The Music”)
- Stevie Ray Vaughan: Caught in the Crossfire, Little, Brown & Company, 1993 (with Bill Crawford); optioned by Miramax Films, 1993-present
- Southern Rock chapter, Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll, Random House, revised 1992
- contributed chapter on Tex-Mex music for The Book of Tex-Mex by Robb Walsh, 2004
- currently collaborating with Eddie Wilson, founder of the Armadillo World Headquarters, on his memoirs.
- contributed a chapter on the cumbia for the Oxford U.S. Latino/Latina Encyclopedia, Oxford Press, 2004
Selected album liner notes:
- From Hell to Gone and Back: Texas Blues (Vanguard) 2003
- Lightnin’ Hopkins, The Tradition Masters (Rykodisc, 2002)
- Freda & The Firedogs (Plug Music) 2002
- Robert Ealey, Turn Out the Lights (Black Top) 1996
- Joe Ely, Letter to Laredo (Rounder) 1995
- The Best of the Texas Tornados (Warners) 1994
- The Voice: Freddy Fender’s Greatest Hits, the Crazy Cajun Recordings (Edsel/UK), 1999
- Texas Monthly Presents: Honed On the Range: Texas Music, Volumes 1-5, 1989 to present (Texas Monthly magazine special products)
- Flaco Jimenez, El Sonido de San Antonio (Arhoolie) 1980
Magazine experience:
- Staff writer, Texas Monthly magazine, 1985-2003
Freelance experience:
- 2002-2006 articles in No Depression, Harp, Austin Chronicle, Dallas Morning News (including profile on Mathew Knowles, father and manager of Beyonce Knowles and Destiny’s Child). Also contributed to Rolling Stone, Spin, and Country Music magazines, among other publications.
Radio:
- Radio commentary, Joe Nick is a weekly guest on Kevin & Kevin KGSR in the Morning, Austin, 1991-present
- Radio personality and co-producer of two 12 hour Texas music specials, KUT-FM, Austin, 1975-1979
- Radio personality, KFAD-FM, Arlington, 1971
Newspapers
- Austin American-Statesman, 1977-1978
- Dallas Morning News, 2003
Management
- Joe King Carrasco & the Crowns, recording artists for Stiff, MCA, Big Beat, and New Rose records, 1979-1985
- True Believers, recording artists for Rounder/EMI records, 1985-1986
Membership:
- National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Grammy Crafts Committee judge
Joe Nick Patosky,
More than twenty years ago you – together with photographer John Dyer – covered an art “happening” of mine for Texas Monthly. By way of your coverage I had the rare opportunity to show my beloved state what a weinie I could be. Not many people get such an opportunity in life. For most folks, mistakes come and go without throngs of witnesses. But it’s not the act of being caught that haunts me, it’s the mistake itself; I made a bluebonnet painting then publicly trashed it.
This is why I now hang my head in shame:
I thought, at the time (Oct. 1990), that art was only valid when it had something more important to say than beauty itself, preferably something important about humanity. I was oh-so-wrong because my theory too heavily weighted a tiny portion of the larger truth – never a good thing. But I get it now. I’ve since come to understand that art is equally valid and powerful when it simply says, “If only I were a billionth as talented as God. Hooray for those bluebonnets over there.” And really, when you think about it, nothing else could be any more important to say about humanity than that.
My deepest, heartfelt apology to all Texans – especially to all bluebonnet painters, and to all lovers of their work – for my foolish high chair tantrum. Flinging my cupcake on the floor is not the part of my childhood I’d like people to remember.
Keith Clementson
I ran across your old story on the Devils River;
http://www.joenickp.com/water/devilsriver.html
As a kid, my uncle leased a camping spot on the Dolan Creek Ranch, mid-70′s. We would spend weeks at a time camping, fishing and floating the stretch of river where the Devils meets Dolan Creek. It was incredible. Your story brought back many of those memories. From the crystal clear, ice-cold water water to the caves with Indian hieroglyphics. When I try to describe it to people they think I’m just telling a Texas Tale. Absolutely the most desolate/inhospitable/dangerous place I have ever been to.
“There is no room for accidents. Rescues are out of the question. Once you get on, there is no turning back.”
I can attest to this first hand. My cousin got sunburned snorkeling one time and passed out cold the next morning. It was a 3 hour drive down a dirt road back before you could hit a paved road to Sonora… where he lived.
I had no idea it was a state park now. Can’t wait to take my 6yo son… lots of good times there and some monster catfish back in the day.
Thx,
Brian
Nick, wanted you to know how much my husband Steve & I are enjoying your books. Steve finished Willie and is now on SRV. I’m in the middle of Willie and so many memories are being brought back! I haven’t thought of Panther Hall or Big D Jamboree in years!!!! I remember a group called the Green Men playing @ Panther Hall (couldn’t tell you what they sounded like though). Then I’m reminded of what we were doing in high school during the years that alot this took place. god I feel old…..Kirks, Musagettes, Cacti, Lake Benbrook, The Box, Como, sneaking out at night….it’s a wonder we survived; great seeing you & Kris last September and hope to see you again. Let us know if you all head up Oregon way.
I am trying to preserve the history of the old South Austin as we knew it. I am not a historian but I love history. Any suggestions would be great. I am going to start interviewing what I call “South Austin Legends”. There are some left. Would like to meet you.
Mike Carlson