This year’s celebration of all things 709 took place Friday, July 9, 2010. We all gathered at the South Austin Popular Culture Center to have a toast and watch a performance of the Uranium Savages.

The band started at 7:09 p.m.

What’s the significance of 709? “Those that say don’t know, those that know don’t say.”

Thanks to George Cummings and Trish Taylor for the photos:

I don’t know how those people got the video but here’s the story behind the original: Freddie was in Austin to play at the Armadillo World Headquarters. Richard Halpin (Jail Arts & Education Project) got Freddie and his brother Bennie to play for the inmates at the Travis Co. Jail. The prisoners loved it. So did the musicians.

I shot it with help from William McLellan & Linda Evans. It was shot with a single tube camera and recorded on a 1/2″ reel-reel portapack.

It is funky old video but a record of a terrific performance and selfless act by the late great artist, Freddie King.”