San Antonio journalist Sam Kindrick was “present at the creation” of the 1970s Outlaw Country movement, according to his recently published autobiography Outlaw Country Reporter: Misfits, Madams, and Hangin’ with Willie.

As a result, Kindrick — who founded Action Magazine in 1975 — helped chronicle the wild and groundbreaking scene that surrounded such musical luminaries as Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Jerry Jeff Walker, David Allan Coe and others.

Kindrick donated his extensive photo archive to the Wittliff Collections at Texas State University in San Marcos, which gave the Current its blessing to share these vintage shots of legendary country musicians performing at San Antonio venues. 

Willie Nelson Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Jerry Lee Lewis Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Dolly Partonl Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Kinky Friedman Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Ernest Tubb Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Ray Wylie Hubbard Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Dale Watson Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Barbara Fairchild Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
New Riders of the Purple Sage Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Johnny Bush Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Gatemouth Brown Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Texas Top Hands Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Hank Williams Jr. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Drugstore Cowboys Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Clifton Jansky Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Augie Meyers with the Western Head Band Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Beth Hooker with Messenger Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Bobby Flores Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Claude Morgan and Buckboard Boogie Boys Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Cooder Browne Band Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Bobby Flores Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Enrique Garza Sr., father of Los Lonely Boys Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Floyd Tillman Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Frenchie Burke Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
George Strait Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Geronimo Trevino Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Hank Thompson Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Jay Dominguez & the Stoney Ridge Band Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Jerry Jeff Walker Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Jimmy Fuller with Joker Moon Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Jimmy Day Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Larry Franklin Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Lester Flatt Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Johnny Rodriguez Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Sylvia Kirk Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Steve Fromholz Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections
Rusty Weir Credit: Courtesy Photo / Sam Kindrick Collection, The Wittliff Collections