GROVES — Forty-six years have passed since that “little ol’ band from Texas” took to the stage at The Towne House in Groves.

To commemorate the now famous band ZZ Top’s early beginnings, the city of Groves has added the band logo to a water tower on Cleveland Avenue.

“Around 2009 or 2010 we contacted their management company for permission to add their logo to the water tower, recognizing the city’s association with the band goes back to 1970,” Groves City Manager D. Sosa said.

Sosa explained that approval was given and the logo design was given the green light from the band’s management company.

But during the planning stages, the city was dealing with the aftermath of a hurricane and other water towers needed painting, so the project was put on the back burner.

“We have been all about trying to keep Groves on the map and associate Groves with something positive,” he said. “Kids from the 1970s remember The Towne House and think it’s neat that ZZ Top started their career here in Groves.”

Al Caldwell, a well-known radio personality on KLVI 560 AM, actually made the move to get ZZ Top’s music on the air.

The Towne House is no longer in existence, Sosa said.

Groves was also one of the first cities to have a Mr. Gatti’s Pizza and Pier 1 Imports, though both are now closed.

“Groves has had lots of firsts and we want to accentuate the positive,” he added.

Groves was also mentioned nationally when local golfer Andrew Landry was competing in the U.S. Open.

The opposite side of the water tower shines light on nationally known duck-call maker Sure Shot Game Calls, which began in 1959.

The cost to add the logo was $8,000, while the cost to paint the entire tower came n at $370,000.

Sosa hopes to have a dedication ceremony in the near future and possibly bring some special guests back to the city they began in.

Mary Meaux: 409-721-2429

Twitter: @MaryMeauxPANews