Dear Readers,

Two months ago, on a cold November night, a crowd of several hundred musicians, record label owners, presenters, artist managers, archivists, writers, podcasters and state employees gathered in the North Carolina Executive Mansion with the Governor and First Lady, Roy and Kristin Cooper. United by a common interest in music connected to or made in our state, this convocation of music aficionados congregated to hear the Coopers officially proclaim 2019 as North Carolina Year of Music and to learn what this much-rumored-but-yet-to-be-publicly-revealed statewide music initiative was all about.

That campaign officially launches today as Come Hear North Carolina. For the past year the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, with the North Carolina Arts Council as the lead agency, has created a plan to celebrate and document our state’s incredible music story.

Durham, N.C. hip-hop artist Gyamazawa at Shakori Hills.

Photo from Asheville’s Echo Mountain Studios

The scope of activities planned for 2019 is inspiring. We are sharing daily stories on our blog about the people and places who make our music so special. We are also sponsoring North Carolina musician stages at major festivals, supporting educational programing, and commissioning new work by our state’s musicians. It is our hope that by the end of this year, people across our state and beyond have a deeper appreciation of what makes music here so authentic, special, and compelling.

North Carolinians have made groundbreaking contributions to many of America’s most important musical genres – think Doc Watson, Thelonious Monk, Nina Simone, and James Taylor. As documented through our arts tourism trails, music is a way of life here and a medium of deep creative, spiritual, and cultural expression for our people. Today, the thousands of North Carolinians who work in the music industry collectively strengthen our economy and enrich our cultural life.

Instruments at N.C. Heritage Awardee Tony Williamson’s shop, Mandomania

Gospel Singer Mary D. Williams from Johnston County, N.C.

Given these accomplishments, you would think that North Carolina musicians, past and present, would be celebrated regularly and that our state would recognize music as one of our most valuable cultural assets. Up to now, that hasn’t been the case; perhaps North Carolinians’ tendency to refrain from braggadocio and let our accomplishments stand on their own merits has kept us from holding our music up to the world.

Our New Year’s resolution is to change our ways a bit and proclaim North Carolina as THE Music State. It is going to be an exciting year and we welcome you to join us for the ride!

Sincerely,

The Come Hear North Carolina Team