Tone Royal Day

The City of Austin will recognize September 25th, 2026, as “Tone Royal Day,” celebrating the career and contributions of Austin hip-hop artist, songwriter, performer and announcer Tone Royal (AKA Ray Villarreal). The citywide recognition will be celebrated that evening with a free live show at Chalmers, featuring Tone Royal alongside Austin artists Brooklyn Michelle, Henry Invisible and Lew Apollo. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the event is 21+. Born in San Antonio and raised in Columbus, Georgia, Tone Royal has made Austin his home and built a career that spans hip-hop, live performance, sports and entertainment. He was twice crowned champion of Austin's Rap For A Stack competition and received Album of the Year at the 2019 ATX Hip-Hop Awards for his EP Late. Known for his sharp wordplay, dynamic delivery and versatile storytelling, Tone Royal has shared stages with hip-hop legends including GZA, Rakim and Atmosphere and has performed for audiences ranging from intimate Austin venues to international crowds. He has also been an official SXSW artist and was featured by the Austin Chronicle as a “gifted songwriter/rapper.” His music includes the tracks “Nick at Nite,” “Lake House” and “Daily” featuring DEVMO, with “Nick at Nite” receiving a KUTX Song of the Day premiere. KUTX described the track as a hazy, genre-blurring production showcasing Tone Royal's “trademark laid back swagger.” Beyond music, Tone Royal has become a familiar voice in major live sports and entertainment. As an in-demand announcer, he has worked events ranging from San Antonio Spurs and Texas Longhorns games, to NCAA "March Madness" to Formula 1 and NASCAR. Notably, he recently announced eight 2026 FIFA World Cup matches. In addition to announcing, he has written songs for The Spurs and major league rugby and has performed as an artist during halftime at Texas Longhorns basketball. “Tone Royal Day” recognizes an Austin artist whose work has extended beyond the stage, connecting music, sports, entertainment and community while representing Austin on increasingly larger platforms. The September 25 celebration will bring that career back to the city where Tone Royal established himself as an artist, with a live performance surrounded by a diverse lineup of fellow Austin musicians, including San Antonio-based producer Brooklyn Michelle, Bootsy Collins-approved one man funk party Henry Invisible and KUTX favorite Lew Apollo.

More Austin events on Friday, September 25, 2026 · More Music events