Page 28 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2021

Miss Lavelle White performing with her band, “The L Men,” at the famous Antone’s Nightclub in downtown Austin, TX. Photo by Kim Yarbrough
was to perform at Antone’s, organized by Ornelas, The L at Antone’s, and then getting the chance to speak with her.
Men and Soul Man Sam. Though I was clearly star-struck, she made no notice; she
Of course, Miss Lavelle has earned a number of awards in loves to meet new people and makes everyone feel like a
her 70-plus years of performing. In 2014, she was nominated friend. She’s the real deal, a wonderful lady and an Austin
for the Blues Music Award’s Koko Taylor Award. She has blues icon!”
received four W.C. Handy Award nominations. Three noted
awards came from France: The Otis Redding Award from
l’Académie du Jazz, the Big Bill Broonzy Award and the Pamela Cosel is a member of the Board of Directors of the Austin
Charles Cross Award, which was presented by the French Blues Society. A former journalist, she co-wrote two novels which
President. She was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of both hit Amazon #1 Bestseller lists in 2019. She is a writer and
Fame in 1996 and the Texas Music Hall of Fame in 2006. editor (atxediting.com), photographer (musicianheadshots.com)
In 2018, Miss Lavelle White and The L Men were and, pre-pandemic, also managed and booked bands via her
nominated for the Best Blues Band, a competition sponsored Texas Live Bands business (texaslivebands.com). Pam is a past
by the Austin Blues Society. That same year, she was honored board president of the Community Advisory Board of Austin
with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Austin Blues PBS, the host station of Austin City Limits. She once had the
Society, an organization that knows what a treasure White is honor of giving Miss Lavelle White a ride home after an ABS
to the Austin music community and beyond. jam night, and learned what a gracious, kind lady she is.
“Miss Lavelle White is an indomitable force in Austin’s
music scene,” remarks Gary Woodcock, former president of References
the Austin Blues Society. “Her performances are legendary,
and not by accident – she’s enormously talented, she works 1 www.allmusic.com/artist/lavelle-white-mn0000784505/
hard at her craft and she sets the bar high for the musicians biography
who share the stage with her. Miss Lavelle has helped many 2 Hudson, Kathleen. (2007). Women in Texas Music: Stories
aspiring players break through by showcasing them at her and Songs (Brad and Michele Moore Roots Music Series).
shows, and she’s equally generous with her fans. I recall University of Texas Press.
being invited by a mutual friend to sit at her table after a set 3 www.austinbluessociety.org/miss-lavelle-white

26 Blues Festival Guide 2021