Christopher B. "Stubb" Stubblefield facts for kids

Christopher B. "Stubb" Stubblefield, Sr. (March 7, 1931 – May 27, 1995) was a famous American barbecue expert. He was a restaurateur who loved music and was even added to the Barbecue Hall of Fame. Stubb is best known for his delicious barbecue sauces, rubs, and marinades. These products are sold by his company, Stubb's Legendary Kitchen, Inc.

Stubb's Early Life and Journey

Christopher B. Stubblefield was born in Navasota, Texas. He was one of thirteen children in his family. His father was a preacher in East Texas. In the 1930s, his family moved to Lubbock, Texas. There, his father worked as a minister and a sharecropper, which means he farmed land owned by someone else.

When Stubb was young, he worked picking cotton. Later, he joined the United States Army. He served during the Korean War. After he was injured, he moved to the army's kitchen, called a mess hall. This is where he started cooking meals for soldiers. After leaving the Army, Stubb returned to Lubbock.

Opening His First Barbecue Restaurant

Back in Lubbock, Stubb met Amos Gamel, another barbecue restaurant owner. Amos taught Stubb a lot about smoking meats. He also showed him how to make great sauces to go with the barbecue.

In 1968, Stubb opened his very first restaurant. It was called Stubb's Bar-B-Q. The restaurant was located in a building that used to be a motor court. Stubb even lived in a room right behind the restaurant. He later made an opening between his kitchen and the barbecue pit. He turned his living room into a pool room for customers.

One night, a famous country singer named Tom T. Hall visited Stubb's. He played a game of pool with musician Joe Ely. They used broomsticks and an onion instead of regular pool cues and balls! This fun event later inspired Tom T. Hall's song, "The Great East Broadway Onion Championship of 1978."

Music and Good Times at Stubb's

In the 1970s and early 1980s, Stubb's restaurant became a famous spot for music. Every Sunday night, musicians would gather for jam sessions. Many well-known artists played there, including Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Muddy Waters. Regular musicians like Dee Purkeypile, who played the B3, also led the house band.

No matter who was playing, Stubb would always get on stage. He would sing "Summertime" before the night ended. He especially loved to sing "House of the Rising Sun." During this song, he would often say, "Just a cook, y'all," showing his humble nature.

Stubb was a tall man with a kind personality. He made his restaurant feel like a big family gathering. Regulars included his cousin, Elias "Cuz" Sabders, and a little person known as Little Pete. The restaurant had an old-fashioned jukebox filled with classic songs. One time, Stevie Ray Vaughan spent a whole Saturday at Stubb's. He was copying down lyrics from the jukebox. One of these songs, "Tin Pan Alley," even ended up on his first album. After Stubb passed away, the jukebox was given to guitarist Jesse Taylor.

Challenges and New Beginnings

Stubb's first restaurant had limited seating. It was also far from the college areas, which meant fewer customers. The Sunday night jam sessions really helped keep the business going. However, another club called Fat Dawg's opened nearby. It started its own Sunday night jam sessions, which hurt Stubb's business. This contributed to his restaurant eventually closing in the early 1980s.

Stubb was sad to see his first restaurant closed. He eventually hired a bulldozer to tear it down. He then moved to Austin, Texas. In 1984, he started selling barbecue at a blues music club called Antone's. Later, he opened his own restaurant in Austin near Interstate 35. This restaurant closed in the late 1980s.

In 1990, Stubblefield started a new company called Stubb's Legendary Kitchen. He worked with partners to sell his barbecue sauce in grocery stores. This company continued to grow even after his death in 1995. Today, it still sells his Original and Spicy barbecue sauces, along with marinades, rubs, and other barbecue flavors. You can find these products all over the United States and in other countries like the U.K. and Australia. In 2015, McCormick & Co. Inc. bought the company, now known as Stubb's Legendary Bar-B-Q. In 1993, Stubb also opened a new restaurant and music venue in Lubbock.

Stubb's Legacy and Memorials

Stubblefield had heart problems for many years. He once described the feeling as "a tornado in my chest." He passed away from heart failure on May 27, 1995. In 2009, Stubblefield was honored and added to the Austin Music Memorial. The new Lubbock restaurant closed shortly after his death.

In 1999, a special memorial was created for Stubblefield. It was a bronze statue made by his friend Terry Allen. The statue stands on the spot where Stubb's first restaurant used to be. It shows Stubblefield holding a platter of barbecue. His other hand is open, welcoming people to his restaurant. Small plaques are set into the remaining floor of the restaurant. They show where the kitchen, cash register, and restrooms used to be.

Stubb's on Red River Street in Austin

A year after Stubb's death, his restaurant reopened in Austin. It is located in a historic 19th-century building at 801 Red River. This new Stubb's is a restaurant and a live music venue. Many famous musicians have performed there. These include James Brown, Bob Dylan, Snoop Dogg, Foo Fighters, Loretta Lynn, Metallica, and Willie Nelson. Bands like Ween and Blue October even recorded live albums at Stubb's. Reggae singer Matisyahu also recorded his album Live at Stubb's there in 2005.

While the Austin restaurant uses the store-bought Stubb's sauces, the sauce from his original restaurant was different. Stubb told a friend that he used Hunt's original sauce. He would then add brine from dill pickles and jalapeños to make it taste just right.

In 2019, Christopher B. "Stubb" Stubblefield was honored again. He was officially inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame.