A Celebration of Life for Tony Florus will be held for family and friends on Saturday, April 24 at Wolters Park Pavilion, Schulenburg, from 3 to 8 p.m. Bring a comfortable lawn chair and stay awhile. Some beverages will be provided but those attending are welcome to bring their own.
Anthony F. “Tony” Florus was born in Shiner on Nov. 9, 1950 and was the youngest of five children. Growing up in the small town of Flatonia, Tony’s talents caught everyone’s attention early on, one of the most notable, was his God-given talent for music. He started out on the clarinet at about the age of 10, and excelled on every instrument he touched.
Tony became an extraordinarily talented musician and his professional career with “The Velvets” spanned for over 5 decades. They performed all over South Central Texas, beginning in the early 1960s at Big Annie’s/Waterson Hall. In the summer 1978, they actually booked 28 performances in one month! Over the years, they shared the stage with the likes of Willie Nelson, George Strait, Kathy Matea, Alabama, Gene Watson, John Wesley Ryles and even opened for the famous Bob Wills twice in the early 1970s. Tony never missed one gig in all those years!
He passed away on April 6, 2020 at age 69 after a lengthy battle with cancer.