AUSTIN -- The co-founder of the annual South by Southwest festival Louis Meyers died on Friday, just as the festival kicked off its 30th year in the Texas capital.
The news was first reported by publication Austin Statesman shortly before President Obama joined the event to discuss the role of technology and innovation across multiple industries -- perhaps the the most influential guest speaker the conference has seen in its three-decade history.
Confirmed: #SXSW co-founder Louis Meyers has died. He was part of SXSW from 1987-94. More to come. @statesman @austin360— Peter Blackstock (@Blackstock360) March 11, 2016
Meyers was among the five-person team to form the SXSW festival in 1987 and focused on booking talent for the several-day music, film and interactive event. He sold his portion of the organization in 1994 citing "burnout" or stress around the conference that was affecting his health, according to a Billboard report.
Thank you Louis Meyers for the years of opportunities you provided for musicians. You will be missed by many. #SXSW pic.twitter.com/8Ia6Xe0MSa— MadisenWard&MamaBear (@MadisenWardMB) March 11, 2016
Meyers -- a musician who loved to play the banjo -- went on to start his own music channel, the report said.
While the details and cause of Myers' death are unknown, SXSW attendees honored his life by posting words of thanks across social media sites for pioneering the influential event.