SAN
MARCOS, Texas – Cheatham Street Warehouse has a new owner: Randy
Rogers. The country music star recently purchased the legendary club
from iconic venue owner Kent Finlay’s children Jenni, Sterling and
HalleyAnna. Kent Finlay, who died on Texas Independence Day 2015,
founded Cheatham Street Warehouse – the iconic Texas launching pad
responsible for skyrocketing George Strait, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Randy
Rogers, Todd Snider and hundreds more singers and songwriters – more
than forty years ago. Additionally, Finlay’s children all grew their
musical wings at the venue.
“Knowing
that Cheatham Street’s legacy will stay in tact under the love and care
of Randy Rogers fills all of our hearts,” eldest daughter Jenni Finlay
says. “Randy came up performing at Dad’s beloved Songwriters Night and
it’s only fitting that he takes the helm. We’re so excited about the
next chapter for Cheatham Street.” “I plan on honoring Kent in every way
with my plans and vision for Cheatham,” Rogers said to the family.
“This means so much to me personally.”
Finlay’s
beloved Cheatham Street Warehouse has always existed for creation.
Songs begin on Cheatham’s stage. They grow. Breathe. Live. Earn more
miles. Finally, they mature into shape. Finlay’s songwriters night, an
open mike for original songs he hosted for nearly every Wednesday night
at the venue for more than four decades, nurtured singular songwriters
and storytellers with stunning frequency during his lifetime. For
instance, the celebrated “Class of ’87” included Americana all-stars
Todd Snider, James McMurtry, Terri Hendrix, Bruce Robison and Hal
Ketchum learning their craft.
“Kent
and his great little honkytonk with indoor toilets gave me and a whole
host of others a place to learn our craft and to learn how to be, sing
and play music onstage,” Strait says. “[I thank] Kent for believing in
the up-and-coming Ace in the Hole Band with a totally unknown singer who
had big dreams and for helping make those dreams a reality. I’ll never
forget those days.”
Literally
bucketsful more – including celebrated guitarists Eric Johnston and
Monte Montgomery, deep-browed songwriters Owen Temple and Walt Wilkins,
fiery live acts Joe King Carrasco and Charlie and Will Sexton – have
emerged from his humble honky tonk stage. Additionally, legendary
singer-songwriters such as Marcia Ball, Guy Clark, Ray Wylie Hubbard,
Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, Ernest Tubb, Townes Van Zandt and
dozens upon dozens more regularly stepped on the Cheatham stage
throughout the 1970s Cosmic Cowboy heyday.
“Randy
Rogers’ career began on the Cheatham Street Warehouse stage,” says
Gregg Andrews, Cheatham Street Music Foundations board of directors
president. “His devotion and loyalty to Kent as a songwriting mentor has
never waivered and he’s fully committed to perserving Kent’s
outstanding legacy. Through the years, Kent and his family transformed
the creaky old warehouse along the railroad tracks into a songwriters’
oasis of world renown and integrity that has left an incredible mark on
Texas music.”
