Cliff Ernst is Living in the Midnight Hour

© 2012 The Texas Lawbook.

By Patricia Baldwin
Lifestyle Writer for The Texas Lawbook

Every band needs an urban legend. For Rhythm Congress, the backstory that’s spun as silky as a spider’s web is that Cliff Ernst could read musical notes before he could read words. His mother started giving him piano lessons at age 3, and his earliest memories are of family trips to Bluegrass festivals in northeastern Oklahoma.

So it’s no surprise to find Ernst behind the keyboard this particular Friday evening at Austin Uptown Dance. Also the lead vocal performer, Ernst counts down and cues the nine-piece band for “The Midnight Hour.” Dancers eagerly fill the ballroom floor. For the next three hours and three sets, arranged to cater to the West Coast Swing dancers, Ernst alternatively sings, chats, jokes and introduces the songs.

“It’s show business. No show, no business,” Ernst quotes American producer Dick Wolf.

Come Monday morning, however, it’s all business and no show for the shareholder at Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody in Austin.

“Clients are kind of fascinated by the fact” the 59-year-old business attorney plays in a band – and sometimes dons reading glasses to see the music. “They think it’s fun,” Ernst says.

True, confirms John Hedrick of AccessCare Dialysis. “I’m actually jealous,” acknowledges Hedrick, a former practicing attorney turned health care entrepreneur, who claims a similar upbringing with a piano teacher as his mother.

Hedrick continues the story. “I met Cliff when I was buying a group practice of physicians.” In that situation, Ernst represented the sellers, but Hedrick was impressed, and, for the last decade, Ernst has handled all of Hedrick’s transactions.

“Cliff is extremely talented. He’s a great lawyer and a great musician,” Hedrick says. “It shows he has a lot of balance in life.”

Ernst agrees his extracurricular music passion provides “peace of mind.” He doesn’t, however, leave all his lawyering traits behind when he enters the music studio.

“Lawyers like to take charge,” he notes with a laugh.

That means Ernst directs the band, writes the arrangements and “has the last say,” trumpet player Terry Armstrong says. That’s OK by him, though, because of the positive results. “Dancers appreciate good music.”

In fact, it was Armstrong who convinced Ernst to consider rhythm and blues and other types of dance music. Ernst had been playing in a rock band for about 15 years when the group disbanded. Rhythm Congress was founded in 2004 and, as the band’s website notes, Ernst “ain’t lookin’ back.”

Rhythm Congress’ large horn section makes the band particularly suited to dance venues – and also makes it unique among its live music competitors.

Ernst explains, “The reason you won’t see a lot of bands with horn sections is that it’s not economical. But we’re doing this for fun. It’s a hobby. So we have the luxury of having horn players.” As he lauds the benefits of horns, he also cites the talents of the drummer and the two guitarists.

Trombone and alto sax player John Wilson came to see the band about five years ago, then joined. The attraction? “The guys.…”

A few of those guys are over 60 and have been counseling Ernst on his upcoming February birthday. “That’s a fun thing,” Ernst says.

He also notes that his profession allows interaction with his beloved performing arts. Among other activities, he is a past president of Ballet Austin and currently serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Long Center for the Performing Arts.

Ernst did not envision such a life path when he went to the career center at Oklahoma State University to figure out his “next step” after college. He learned that liberal arts – he was an English major – was good preparation for law school. He subsequently attended the University of Texas School of Law and joined Baker Botts in Houston as an associate specializing in the oil industry. In 1986, as oil prices collapsed, he moved to Graves Dougherty.

Ernst describes the move as a good professional opportunity. He just coincidentally landed in the music mecca of Austin.

As for the rest of the story, it hasn’t been written yet. Ernst plans to continue his involvement with Rhythm Congress and hopes the band will find a regular, perhaps monthly, gig in the new year.

“I’m a happier person when I get to play.”

Do you have a special hobby – or other lifestyle interest – to share? Please email patricia.baldwin@texaslawbook.net.

© 2012 The Texas Lawbook. Content of The Texas Lawbook is controlled and protected by specific licensing agreements with our subscribers and under federal copyright laws. Any distribution of this content without the consent of The Texas Lawbook is prohibited.