Dallas is right in tune as it hits all the notes and becomes certified as a Music Friendly Community by the Texas Music Office.
In a joint announcement by Gov. Greg Abbott and Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, Dallas officially received the “Music Friendly Community” designation.
Dallas displayed a long-term commitment to working with music-related businesses and economic development within the city to earn the honor. Mayor Eric Johnson has been a longtime proponent of being a music-friendly city, and now his efforts have paid off.
“With support from the Texas Music Office, in 2019 the Texas music industry created more than 210,000 direct and indirect permanent jobs in communities all across the Lone Star State and generated $27.3 billion in economic activity,” said Gov. Greg Abbott.
“When you talk about Texas music history, you are talking about Dallas,” said Mayor Eric Johnson. “Our city helped bring the world the likes of Lead Belly, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Whistlin’ Alex Moore, T-Bone Walker, Steve Miller, Boz Scaggs, Roy Hargrove, Johnnie Taylor, Dusty Hill, Ray Charles, Erykah Badu, Norah Jones, The Chicks, The DOC, Meat Loaf, Charley Pride, and Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan, among others.”
While many Dallas musicians are known worldwide, Johnson noted that the local music scene is the foundation of the city’s musical roots.
“And the stages of Deep Ellum, Oak Cliff, the Cedars, and downtown Dallas routinely attract some of the top musical artists working today. We are incredibly grateful for this designation, which recognizes our city’s rich history and allows us to foster our vibrant music scene for years to come,” he added.
The city’s official designation will be presented to Johnson on Sept. 29 at the Kessler Theater during a certification ceremony with VisitDallas.
“We’re proud to earn this distinction acknowledging what we’ve known about Dallas for a long time; it’s a city of deep and diverse musical history that has birthed a wide array of amazing musical talent,” said VisitDallas President and CEO Craig T. Davis.