'''Antone's Records & Tapes''' was founded by
Clifford Antone (October 27, 1949 – May 22, 2006) in 1987. It specialized in
blues music, particularly the blues artists who performed at his blues nightclub
Antone's, which opened on July 15, 1975, in
Austin, Texas. In 1987, Antone also opened a record store named Antone's Record Shop in Austin, Texas. In 1993, the record label's name was simplified to '''Antone's Records'''. Antone's was awarded best local record label by
The Austin Chronicle readers in 1993. Texas Clef Entertainment Group, an affiliate of Antone's Records, acquired the assets of the defunct
Watermelon Records label. After Clifford Antone's death in 2006, the record label filed for bankruptcy. Masters of Antone's and Watermelon recordings went to
New West Records as part of the Texas Music Group. ==Artists==