Louis Black

Louis Black co-founded "The Austin Chronicle", an alternative weekly newspaper published in Austin, Texas, and has been the newspaper's editor since its inception. Black is also one of the founders of the South by Southwest Festival, also located in Austin, although the festival operates as a separate company from that of the "Chronicle". He also is a founding partner in Toronto's North by Northeast music and film festival.

Black was born in Teaneck, New Jersey where he was childhood friends with film critic Leonard Maltin and singer Phoebe Snow. Maltin and Black regularly prowled the rep cinemas of Manhattan as teens. He moved to Austin to study film at The University of Texas and became an expert in B-movies, including the work of Russ Meyer. Black helped run legendary film nights at the university before starting the "Chronicle" with film friend Nick Barbaro.

He recently was executive producer of a documentary on legendary Texas songwriter Townes Van Zandt. He also appears in the current documentary film "The Devil and Daniel Johnston" (Black was an early supporter of the troubled Texas singer).

Mr. Black responded to recent [http://www.austinist.com/archives/2007/02/26/snapshots_wristband_mania.php criticism] by issuing a sarcastic [http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/News/?oid=oid%3A451248 response] where he likened his balls to an abacus.