2019: The Year of Music

Man, for someone who (likes to) fancy himself a chronicler and promoter of all things North Carolina, somehow it slipped past me that 2019 will be the Year of Music in the Old North State.

*Looks at calendar. Realizes that 2019 is almost halfway over.*

D'OH!

It wasn't until I saw some of my favorites -- like BJ Barham of American Aquarium and the Chatham County Line guys -- tweeting about it last night that I realized this was a thing. Apparently Mandolin Orange had a special gig at the Executive Mansion in celebration of the Year of Music.

“From bluegrass to the blues, from gospel to funk, from beach music to indie and hip hop, North Carolina is the birthplace of many musical styles and iconic performers,” Gov. Cooper said in a press release, ahem, last year. “The Year of Music celebration not only recognizes North Carolina musicians that are now cultural icons but the nearly 25,000 North Carolinians who work in music occupations.”

Even taking away the business of music, songwriting and performing here in N.C. is a BIG deal and should be celebrated, even just for the art of it. Lord knows we have a lot of which to be proud.

Here are a just a few of the music-related posts from this site from over the years:

• Dunn, N.C. and the Hall of Fame connection
• (Also, Let's Get Link Wray into the Rock HOF) 
• Nothin' could be finer
• Epperson preserved the music of the Appalachians
• Doc Watson, the face of N.C.
• A tribute to N.C.'s musical heritage
• Are we losing beach music?

“Music is universal in North Carolina, regardless of where you live in the state,” said Susi H. Hamilton, secretary for the North Carolina Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. “North Carolinians are the heroes of many musical genres in America, reflecting our rich cultural heritage, our innovative spirit and the collaborative nature of our musical communities.”