Austin: Angela Strehli and the Soul of Antone’s

Angela Strehli arrived in Austin in the early 1970s with a decade of Texas blues experience behind her. She wasted no time making her presence felt. In 1972, she co-founded Southern Feeling with guitarist Denny Freeman and bassist W.C. Clark — one of the most important early blues ensembles in Austin’s history. As a result, she helped lay the groundwork for the blues movement that would soon make Austin world famous.

When Clifford Antone opened his legendary blues club in 1975, Strehli was there from the beginning. She took on the role of stage manager and sound technician, working behind the scenes to ensure every performance at Antone’s reached its full potential. Furthermore, she helped host some of the greatest blues performers of the 20th century. Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, and Jimmy Reed all played the Antone’s stage. Moreover, Strehli was present for every set, learning from each performance and building relationships that spanned the entire blues world.

Antone’s Records and a New Chapter

Strehli’s connection to Antone’s extended beyond the stage. She helped launch Antone’s Records, a label dedicated to preserving and promoting the blues traditions she loved. Consequently, the label became one of the most important blues imprints in Texas history. Through her work as stage manager, sound technician, and label co-founder, Strehli built a reputation that rivaled any performer on the Austin circuit. Therefore, by the time she recorded her debut album, she had already changed Austin’s blues scene in ways that most musicians never could.