Joe Nick Patoski Papers

Collection

Identifier: SWWC-029

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Typescripts, correspondence, clippings, photographs, sound recordings, printed material, handwritten notes, ephemera, and artifacts, 1929 to 1998 (bulk 1975-1995), created and maintained by Joe Nick Patoski, document much of his writing career, as well as some aspects of his business and personal life. The collection has been arranged into nine series: Writing (1975-1998, undated), Correspondence (1971-1998, undated), Promotional Material (1975-1998, undated), Research Material (1929-1998, undated), Artist Development Inc. (1985-1986, undated), Personal (1980-1995), Photographic Material (undated), Ephemera and Printed Material (1975-1997), and Sound Recordings (1962-1990). These series have been created by the cataloger, as the materials arrived with very little discernible order. Though Research Material and Writing are not the two largest series in the collection, they do offer the most insight into Patoski's research and writing process, as well as into the topics that interest him. The largest series include Sound Recordings (5.5 linear feet), Promotional Material (almost 4 linear feet.), and Research Material (3.25 linear feet). Music, in particular Texas and Southwestern music and musicians, is one of Patoski's major areas of interest. This is well documented in the collection, as each series contains material that reveals Patoski's involvement in the music world as a manager, a critic, and as a fan. Much of the music material (photographs, interviews, clippings, ephemera) in the Research Material series was compiled by Patoski, and it relates to later articles and books written by Patoski. The largest concentration of music related material is in the Promotional Material series, but the majority of these materials (publicity photographs, press releases, news clippings) are commercial in nature, and were routinely mailed to Patoski. Therefore, these materials do not necessarily reflect his personal tastes or interests in music. Patoski's passion for music has not prevented him from writing about many other topics. He has written on topics ranging from miniature golf to B-B-Q to the closing of Aquarena Springs in San Marcos. The wide variety of topics Patoski has researched and written about is well represented in the Writing series and the Research series. A relatively smaller group of material in this collection relates to Patoski's personal life. In the Correspondence series, many of the letters, particularly the letters from his father, offer insight into Patoski's relationships with family and friends. The Photographic Material series contains many unidentified snapshots of Patoski with friends and family throughout his life.

Dates

1929-1998
Majority of material found within 1975-1995

Creator

Patoski, Joe Nick, 1951- (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Patoski holds copyright for Selena materials he wrote and created, and half of the Caught in the Crossfire materials he wrote and created with co-author Bill Crawford.

Biographical Notes

Joe Nick Patoski was born June 6, 1951, in Allentown, Pennsylvania to Victor Albert Patoski, who was an engineer, and Irene (Cassalias) Randall, who was a travel agent. The family moved to West Fort Worth in 1953. He attended the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Texas at Austin, where he began his career as a writer and consultant in the music business in 1972. Patoski married artist Kristine Anne Cummings November 18, 1980. Starting as a columnist with the Daily Texan, the newspaper of the University of Texas at Austin, Patoski soon earned a reputation as one of the most respected critics of pop culture in the Southwest. He worked as a stringer for Rolling Stone from 1974 to 1980, and as a contributing editor for Texas Monthly from 1975 to 1980. During the early 1980s, Patoski was the manager and executive producer for several top Texas rock and roll bands, and toured the United States, Europe, and South America. From 1975 to 1979, Patoski was a radio commentator as well as co-producer of two twelve-hour Texas music specials for KUT-FM, Austin. Since 1991 he has been a weekly guest on the “Kevin & Kevin KGSR in the Morning” radio show in Austin. Starting in 1985, Patoski was an associate editor at Texas Monthly; he was senior editor from 1988 to 2003. Patoski has written on various topics covering the entire range of Texas culture, including the environment. He is currently a freelance writer, with articles published in Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine, No Depression, Harp, Austin Chronicle, and Dallas Morning-News, as well as Rolling Stone, Spin, and Country Music Magazine. His work has also appeared in Mother Jones, Village Voice, Westways, and Conde Nast Traveler.