If music is the lifeblood of the world, then a man like Bobby Barnard stands at its heart. For 37 years, Barnard infused San Marcos with good music through Sundance Records, serving the community as a thriving cultural hub for generations.
Even after retiring Sundance in 2012, Barnard’s work continued through two of his former employees/proteges who opened stores of their own: Tomas Escalante, with Sig’s Lagoon in Houston, and Greg Ellis, with Groover’s Paradise in Austin. Both men, lifelong friends of Barnard’s, followed in his footsteps to provide heartfelt music recommendations to their patrons.
So, even as San Marcos comes together to grieve for Bobby Barnard, who passed away from a stroke on Aug. 6, they celebrate the lasting impression he left upon the town with his eclectic record store that meant so much to everyone who stepped through its doors.
