Downtown in Beaumont in Jefferson County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
William G. "Bill" Hall
(1929-1983)
Photographed By Jeff Leichsenring, January 19, 2023
1. William G. "Bill" Hall Marker
Inscription.
William G. "Bill" Hall. Music publisher William G. Hall helped start and promote the careers of dozens of musicians. Hall was raised in Beaumont's Multimax Village and graduated from South Park High School and Lamar State College. He was considering a career in law before turning his attention to the burgeoning Texas music scene. By 1956, he was managing George Jones. Soon after, he and his friend, J.P. Richardson ("The Big Bopper"), made plans to build a recording studio and publishing company in Beaumont to promote the latter's music. A tragic plane crash took the life of Richardson, Buddy Holly and Richie Valens on Feb. 3, 1959. Even after death, Richardson's songs continued to be number one hits. Hall opened a small studio called Hall-Way on Magnolia Street in 1959., Hall signed young musicians like Johnny (Winter) and the Jammers and Rod Bernard. Hall invited another old friend, Jack Clement, to move to Beaumont and become business partners. Hall and Clement opened a new studio on this site at 888 Pearl Street called Gulf Coast Recording Company, as well as two music publishing companies: Hall-Clement Publishing Co. and Jack and Bill Music Co. within six months, Gulf Coast Recording produced a million-selling record with "Patches" in May 1962., Hall and Clement continued to recruit songwriters to join their team. Dickey Lee, Allen Reynolds, Bob McDill, Jerry Foster and Bill Rice were all eventually inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Gulf Coast Recording Company recorded its last song in 1964, but Hall remained active in producing country music. Bill Hall died in April 1983 in Beaumont and was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery. In 1994, Hall was inducted into the Museum of the Gulf Coasts Music Hall of Fame. In 2009, he was posthumously bestowed the second-ever Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award.
Music publisher William G. Hall helped start and promote the careers of dozens of musicians. Hall was raised in Beaumont's Multimax Village and graduated from South Park High School and Lamar State College. He was considering a career in law before turning his attention to the burgeoning Texas music scene. By 1956, he was managing
George Jones. Soon after, he and his friend, J.P. Richardson ("The Big Bopper"), made plans to build a recording studio and publishing company in Beaumont to promote the latter's music. A tragic plane crash took the life of Richardson, Buddy Holly and Richie Valens on
Feb. 3, 1959. Even after death, Richardson's songs continued to be number one hits. Hall opened a small studio called Hall-Way on Magnolia Street in 1959.
Hall signed young musicians like Johnny (Winter) and the Jammers and Rod Bernard. Hall invited another old friend, Jack Clement, to move to Beaumont and become business partners. Hall and Clement opened a new studio on this site at 888 Pearl Street called Gulf Coast Recording
Company, as well as two music publishing companies: Hall-Clement Publishing Co. and Jack & Bill Music Co. within six months, Gulf Coast Recording produced a million-selling record with "Patches" in May 1962.
Hall and Clement continued to recruit songwriters to join their team. Dickey Lee, Allen Reynolds,
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Bob McDill, Jerry Foster and Bill Rice were all eventually inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Gulf Coast Recording Company recorded its last song in 1964, but Hall remained active in producing country music. Bill Hall died in April
1983 in Beaumont and was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery. In 1994, Hall was inducted into the Museum of the Gulf Coasts Music Hall of Fame. In 2009, he was posthumously bestowed the second-ever Frances Williams Preston Mentor Award.
Erected 2020 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 22767.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1983.
Location. 30° 4.83′ N, 94° 5.737′ W. Marker is in Beaumont, Texas, in Jefferson County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of Pearl Street and College Street, on the left when traveling north on Pearl Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 888 Pearl Street, Beaumont TX 77701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 25, 2024, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 69 times since then. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 25, 2024, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.