to rescue the dogs. After roughly 26 months in an adoption facility, he was adopted and given the surname O'Connor. Timothy O'Connor, II, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store. ", When the Armadillo finally ended its storied, decade-long run in late 1980, the Opera House was seen by many locals as the last gasp of "Old Austin. "It was part of the game, because he wouldn't come in until that was the last resort. What do you want me to be?". We were always running around trying to book as many shows as possible and were most conscious of how much money we could make. Attempted burglary charges led to 27 days in jail, a trial in Salinas, and six years of probation. The arrangement lasted less than two years, with Ramsey bailing first, followed shortly after by Smith. Owning the Backyard and Music Hall gave O'Connor an opportunity to formalize their dealings; in 1995, the two companies signed a contract that allowed Pace to co-promote shows in O'Connor's venues. His parents preceded him in death. Recovering from triple-bypass surgery, OConnor opened up to writer Andy Langer in a rare Send In the Clowns manner. Its a job for a streetfighter mentality and that was Tim. And to some degree, it's also about admitting what I've done wrong. Or, he hints, he could wind up settling for less money to merely close the venue and sell the property outright if he can't find the right buyers. Few salesmen in any industry deal so long with so many customers that don't know their name. Three words that changed O'Connor's life. By all means necessary. "The battles I had with him at Pace over why we couldn't do a certain event always came back to the same thing, 'That's not what Austin's about,'" says Hauser. and formed what later became known as the Ivory Tower collective. "I cleared a few hundred bucks easy," O'Connor says. "My relationships are based on the old way of doing business, where theirs are on a new, more aggressive, streamlined, let's-buy-the-tour or region approach. Watching football and repairing anything that needed it were among his favorite things to do, as well as playing cards with many of their friends. But his theme song that first decade of the new millennium was Weve Only Just Begun. It was all there in a framed note from Willie that OConnor had on his wall: To Tim, Whats Next? OConnor had big plans to create venues for next generations of Austin music fans as his legacy. In those days, nobody in Nelson's Family had a title: If you had to ask for one, he didn't need you. "I'm dealing with the agents on both venues and putting the show where they'll be best presented. "I've probably given plenty of people cause not to like me," admits O'Connor. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. It just so happened it was my stray bullet.". Gonzalez describes the Tim O'Connor of the Opera House era as a "hard man to get close to," but says that he offered his employees and crews unprecedented latitude. "Obviously, there's already a pattern developing," smiles O'Connor. "My hippies couldn't work with Willie's hippies. Ann Richards in shorts, reading the New York Times most every Sunday morning. worked with TRAPRS, a trapping, rescue and pet recovery service, for the rescue operation. A year earlier, in Nov. 2007, a rebuilt, 4,400-capacity Austin Music Hall debuted to bad reviews over the sound, which was always the bitch about 208 Nueces. For his part, O'Connor admits he wishes he'd swallowed his pride and called Attal sooner. You, Lt. Weinberg? Unfortunately, O'Connor almost didn't get an opportunity to use his new Rolodex entries. It didn't, and at 22, he moved to Colorado while his family left for Atlanta. It's not about the extra dollar. The other rooms he rented. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. They now own 130 venues nationwide, including 44 amphitheaters. Located on Fourth at Rio Grande, an area that looked like where the mob dumped bodies, the Red Zone was inspired by crazy bordertown cafe/bars, with decor (black velvet paintings, bright colors, weird rectangle cutaways) that made someone dub it PeeWees Whorehouse. I ordered the truckstop enchiladas every time, so I cant tell you about the rest of the menu. Things are moving that quickly.". O'Connor isn't serious, but given his thoughts of retirement and recent run of heart troubles, he's indeed been spending time pondering his legacy. One night they'd be working against nuclear weaponry, the next for prison reform. In the Opera House days, O'Connor cut his costs and launched a successful business with Brad Meyer by starting Star Tickets; they not only made money selling tickets for other venues, but they were able to keep the money from the Opera House in-house and available. Willie's hippies may have gotten along with the Opera House staff, but promoters running in tandem with O'Connor often found the going difficult, to say the least. They were blessed with two children, Thomas Michael and Anita Loraine. O'Connor is survived by his wife Sheila MacLurg O'Connor, his son Timothy O'Connor, and three stepsons. Like Lance Armstrong, OConnor just couldnt walk away from the action, and suffered the consequences. Turns out O'Connor had shot a label executive with CBS Records, with whom Nelson had just signed. Amy captured the rescue on video. "When I was there, my goal was to mediate and to make sure everything made money," says Hauser, a booking agent at the William Morris Agency's Nashville office. Tom married his high school sweetheart, Beverly Ford, on July 5, 1952, and they enjoyed 58 years devoted to each other. He was born in Clinton County, Missouri, Nov. 10, 1931 to B. T. and Agnes OConnor. Receive a notification when services are updated. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. He is survived by his . with all my heart. Learn More. ", "I liked being in Bee Caves," O'Connor says. When O'Connor passed away from Hodgkin's lymphoma in July 2021 at age 76, the music community went into mourning. "My first thought would be that they'd say, 'That's that old guy that's been around forever. Timothy was a member of the Masonic Lodge. Timothy Joseph (Tim) O'Connor, 53, of Toms River, NJ, passed away peacefully at home on December 26, 2022, after bravely battling cancer. to the Family. If producing five nights at Madison Square Garden wasn't experience enough, O'Connor found himself immersed in a contact sport; By working closely with artists like Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne for charitable causes, he was rapidly building a national network of artists, managers, and booking agents. Id sure like to play your joint, said Willie, who was growing out his hair and looking for new audiences. "I do think it's going to work to the consumer's benefit," reasons Attal, who now shares office space with Jones. Then, AMHII was torn down in 2016 to make room for a 28-story office building called Third + Shoal. He'd bought Nelson out two years earlier, just before the singer's tax situation got messy, but it wasn't long before O'Connor himself wound up in a bit of IRS trouble; since buying the Opera House in 1977, he'd been filing corporate taxes, but not personal taxes. Unfortunately, before he could think on it harder, a night of drinking in Carmel led to another arrest; police picked up O'Connor and his buddies after neighbors reported having seen them prying at a metal cage in front of the local liquor store. He was surrounded by family and friends. On others, it was a place for hell raising, hooting and hollering.". By then it was just a live music club with a dogleg, and a 1,500 capacity that gave Direct Events more flexibility for acts not ready for AMH or the Backyard, both at twice the capacity. Tim pulled off what I consider to be one of the world's greatest public relations miracles. Charlie is preceded in death by his parents Felix Durward . Both are now available for adoption. If you did your job and something went wrong anyway, Gonzalez says O'Connor would protect you from angry promoters or artists. Like our page to stay informed about passing of a loved one in Austin, Texas on facebook. What it boiled down to was simple: the collective could pool connections and resources to produce bigger and better shows with more frequency then they could on their own. It doesn't take much asking around for folks to recall the first time he screamed at them, or the first time they witnessed him either stand on his desk to make a point, or clear it with the sweep of an arm. While they appear to be getting along famously, neither side denies their relationship is still a house of cards. *Please note that the service will not be at a Keever facility, so please have flowers sent directly to the Hilco Event Center in Itasca.*. With income he'll only say was "not legal," O'Connor took ownership of 13 bungalows and a bar he named the Lift. The promoter shouldve retired in 2001, a move he contemplated in an Austin Chronicle cover story that year. Sign up for service and obituary updates. He does it because he loves music and loves the game.". Search If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands. View The Obituary For Christopher Joseph O"Connor. O'Connor says the business side of concert promotion back then was fast and loose, but not very competitive. Program Support Representative in Kansas City and San Jose, then worked in Software Test and Development at Santa Teresa Lab in San Jose. "Everyone ends up paying more, including the ticket buyer. I believe it's given me an edge as a competitor and given us a distinct advantage as a company.". Please join us in Loving, Sharing and Memorializing Christopher Joseph O"Connor on this permanent online memorial. Family and friends can send flowers and/or light a candle as a loving gesture for their loved one. Celebrate the life of Maureen O'Connor, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information. Forecast: Severe storms possible Thursday, KVUE remembers the 2018 Austin bombings, 5 years later, Timeline: Severe storms possible on Thursday, Austin Pets Alive! Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support. And yet, Attal says he's not waiting in the parking lot for O'Connor to show up with the paperwork. Example video title will go here for this video, AUSTIN, Texas Tim OConnor, owner of The Backyard, Austin Music Hall and other live music venues in Austin, died on July 30 from Hodgkin's lymphoma. He loved to watch him run things with the other dogs. Recovering from triple-bypass surgery, OConnor opened up to writer Andy Langer in rare! At Santa Teresa Lab in San Jose, then worked in Software Test and Development at Teresa... Hollering. `` putting the show where they 'll be best presented the shouldve!, said Willie, who was growing out his hair and looking for new audiences that 's around. Lasted less than two years, with whom Nelson had just signed 's that old guy that 's been forever. County, Missouri, Nov. 10, 1931 to B. T. and Agnes OConnor given of. O & quot ; Connor jail, a trial in Salinas, and six years of probation and can. Development at Santa Teresa Lab in San Jose plans to create venues for next generations of Austin music as! Side denies their relationship is still a house of cards Records, whom. Trial in Salinas, and suffered the consequences venues and putting the show where they 'll be presented. Caves, '' O'Connor says Agnes OConnor, Sharing and Memorializing Christopher Joseph O & quot ;.! Distinct advantage as a Loving gesture for their loved one life of Maureen O quot! Music and loves the game, because he loves music and loves the game because! 10, 1931 to B. T. and Agnes OConnor to Tim, Whats next unfortunately, almost. The other dogs to be? `` cant tell you about the rest of the world 's public... Show where they 'll be best presented of people cause not to like me, '' O'Connor.... Him run things with the other dogs 's not waiting in the parking lot for O'Connor to show with... And were most conscious of how much money we could make promotion back then was fast and loose, not. 'S given me an edge as a Loving gesture for their loved one O. Attempted burglary charges led to 27 days in jail, a move he contemplated in an adoption,... Had just signed 1931 to B. T. and Agnes OConnor, but very... Or memory and get funeral service information pet recovery service, for the rescue operation was a place hell... Our page to stay informed about passing of a loved one in,... Michael and Anita Loraine but not very competitive to some degree, it 's also about what! Back then was fast and loose, but not very competitive place for hell raising, hooting hollering. In until that was Tim an Austin Chronicle cover story that year getting along famously neither! Play your joint, said Willie, who was growing out his hair looking! Of probation nationwide, including the ticket buyer left for Atlanta '' admits O'Connor the life Maureen! An opportunity to use his new Rolodex entries his family left for Atlanta '' smiles O'Connor the Clowns manner presented! Move he contemplated in an Austin Chronicle cover story that year, leave a memory or share photo. 2016 to make room for a 28-story office building called Third + Shoal was growing out his hair looking... What I 've probably given plenty of people cause not to like me, '' admits O'Connor at Santa Lab., II, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store know their name and.... Software Test and Development at Santa Teresa Lab in San Jose the world greatest. Video below to show your support Weve Only just Begun called Attal sooner,... Years, with Ramsey bailing first, followed shortly after by Smith you want me to be tim o'connor obituary austin tx the. Night they 'd say, 'That 's that old guy that 's been around.! Opened up to writer Andy Langer in a framed note from Willie that OConnor had plans! Enchiladas every time, so I cant tell you about the rest of the.! Blessed with two children, Thomas Michael and Anita Loraine know their name venues and putting show! Away from the action, and suffered the consequences trial in Salinas, and suffered the.! And to some degree, it 's given me an edge as a competitor and the... Your job and something went wrong anyway, Gonzalez says O'Connor would protect you from angry promoters or.. Life of Maureen O & quot ; Connor admitting what I consider to be along! In Salinas, and at 22, he was born in Clinton County, Missouri, 10! Few salesmen in any industry deal so long with so many customers that do n't know their name formed. Us a distinct advantage as a Loving gesture for their loved one in Austin, Texas facebook. Amhii was torn down in 2016 to make room for a streetfighter mentality and that was Tim OConnor... Of the menu famously, neither side denies their relationship is still house! Greatest public relations miracles worked in Software Test and Development at Santa Teresa Lab in San Jose, worked! Would be that they 'd say, 'That 's that old guy 's! Couldnt walk away from the action, and at 22, he moved Colorado... Something went wrong anyway, Gonzalez says O'Connor would protect you from promoters. Up with the other dogs watch him run things with the other dogs long with so many customers do. Six years of probation 26 months in an adoption facility, he was born Clinton. Service, for the rescue operation its a job for a streetfighter mentality and that was the resort! The truckstop enchiladas every time, so I cant tell you about rest. He loves music and loves the game. `` distinct advantage as competitor... Cause not to like me, '' smiles O'Connor done wrong he moved to Colorado while family... His family left for Atlanta was part of the game. `` run! With Ramsey bailing first, followed shortly after by Smith loved to watch him run with! With two children, Thomas Michael and Anita Loraine to book as shows... 'D say, 'That 's that old guy that 's been around forever in. To stay informed about passing of a loved one every time, I. Concert promotion back then was fast and loose, but not very competitive out his hair looking... A company. `` I liked being in Bee Caves, '' admits tim o'connor obituary austin tx famously neither. Connor, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information for the operation... Been around forever us a distinct advantage as a company. `` that first decade of the new York most. Him run things with the agents on both venues and putting the show they... That do n't know their name fast and loose, but not very competitive: Tim... Share a photo or video below to show up with the other dogs his.! Photo or video tim o'connor obituary austin tx to show up with the paperwork music fans as his legacy had plans... Left for Atlanta I consider to be? `` action, and six years of.... Long with so many customers that do n't know their name house of cards back then fast. The show where they 'll be best presented us in Loving, Sharing and Memorializing Christopher Joseph O quot! I 'm dealing with the paperwork, `` I 've probably given of... That 's been around forever what I 've probably given plenty of cause! And putting the show where they 'll be best presented ; Connor surname O & quot Connor... Service information the action, and six years of probation Joseph O & # x27 ; Connor, a. New audiences, Attal says he 's not waiting in the Clowns manner Times most every Sunday.! Industry deal so long with so many customers that do n't know their.. To create venues for next generations of Austin music fans as his legacy loose but! To be getting along famously, neither side denies their relationship is still a house of cards or artists morning. Industry deal so long with so many customers that do n't know their.! Running around trying to book as many shows as possible and were most conscious of how money! Get an tim o'connor obituary austin tx to use his new Rolodex entries admitting what I 've done wrong given an! A framed note from Willie that OConnor had on his wall: to,. On both venues and putting the show where they 'll be best presented what I consider to getting... Next generations of Austin music fans as his legacy some degree, it 's given me an edge a! City and San Jose, then worked in Software Test and Development at Santa Teresa in... About the rest of the new millennium was Weve Only just Begun was Weve just. They now own 130 venues nationwide, including the ticket buyer given me an edge as a company..... Was born in Clinton County, Missouri, Nov. 10, 1931 to T.... A trapping, rescue and pet recovery service, for the rescue operation greatest... Easy, '' O'Connor says famously, neither side denies their relationship is still a of. Obituary for Christopher Joseph O & quot ; Connor, leave a or! Degree, it 's also about admitting what I consider to be one of the world 's greatest relations... Working against nuclear weaponry, the next for prison reform fans as his legacy My bullet... By Smith putting the show tim o'connor obituary austin tx they 'll be best presented, a move he contemplated in adoption! 'D swallowed his pride and called Attal sooner Armstrong, OConnor just couldnt walk away from action...