Shelley King Encourages Fellow Texans to Nominate Local Musicians for Texas State Musician Honors
Published
Singer/Songwriter Shelley King
Encourages Fellow Texans
To Nominate Local Musicians
For the Coveted Texas State Musician Honors
Deadline for Submission is Oct. 15
“Texas has a long and important musical legacy
and I’m very proud to be a part of that,”
says the First Lady of Texas Music
AUSTIN, Texas — Of all the accolades and career accomplishments singer/songwriter Shelley King has received during her illustrious career, being honored as a Texas State Musician in 2008 by the Texas Commission of the Arts ranks as one of her proudest moments.
Always a believer in women supporting women, musicians supporting musicians, and Texans supporting her home state of Texas, King encourages fellow Lone Star State residents to nominate state musicians at www.txoriginal.com/. Any Texas citizen is welcome to nominate individuals who are either a native Texan or a five-year resident to be a Texas State Artist for the 2025-2026 period in five categories — State Artist (painting/photography), State Artist (sculpture), State Musician, State Musician (classical), or Poet Laureate. The deadline for application is October 15.
“Texas has a long and important musical legacy and I’m very proud to be a part of that,” says King, who has been dubbed the First Lady of Texas Music for being the first woman to hold the Texas State Musician honor. “I’ve always been taught that the Texas way is to be strong and independent. I’ve been an independent artist my entire career and I carry that fearless Texas spirit with me everywhere I go. It is such an incredible honor to be listed among these giants of Texas music, but it is equally as cool to be listed next to the Bluebonnet… that’s the state flower! Makes my momma proud!”
The honor has afforded King the opportunity to travel all over the state and take her music to festivals and events in large cities and even underserved rural communities. But it’s the honoree ceremony that is forever etched in King’s memory. “When I was honored, the state of Texas had a reception in the senate where we dined on state china,” she recalls. “All of the other state artists appointed that day were there. Dale Watson was the 2007 state musician honoree, and I was 2008. Steven Fromholz was the poet laureate. He was joking around about snagging an official Senate teacup. He didn’t, but it was a funny thought.”
She continues, “There was a resolution read on the floors of the House and Senate in the Texas State Capitol, where I was honored with the title, Official State Musician of Texas. My name is forever listed in the Texas almanac. It’s truly an honor that I cherish daily.”
Every two years, the citizens of Texas nominate musicians, visual artists, sculptors, and poets to the Texas Commission On The Arts, who are tasked with distilling it down to a number of nominees that go on a shortlist. That list is sent to a committee appointed by the governor who then chooses two of each art form to receive the appointment. King’s name is alongside some of the biggest names in music, including Willie Nelson, Kelly Clarkson, and George Strait.
Meanwhile, King continues to support local women and musicians through the organization she co-founded, HOME, which helps the elders of the music community with housing costs. The organization recently received its 501c3 non-profit status and is expanding its mission of creating security for aging Austin area musicians through a slate of fundraising events, including the Sept. 23 “HOME Series: “Mr. Texas Night” with Larry Wright, Gordon Wright, and Marcia Ball at Saxon Pub in Austin, Texas. For more information, please visit /thesaxonpub.com/event/
Here is the complete list of Texas State Artist Musicians:
For more information on Shelley King, please visit www.shelleyking.com.
About Shelley King
Award-winning and critically acclaimed Shelley King’s 10th album release, Madam Mystic (2023), adds new flavors to her “electric Southern blues and acoustic folk, revved-up Cajun country and rock ’n’ roll” (Dallas Observer). Released on her own label, Lemonade Records, the album features 12 new tunes written or co-written by King including the single, “Time Means Nothing,” an intimate and warm song about appreciating the here-and-now, as well as the fun, swinging, jazz title track, that unveils a deeper artistry, matured by her years of touring, recording, and electrifying audiences throughout and beyond the Lone Star State.
Following her studies at Sam Houston State University, seasoned by countless gigs in musical theater and as a solo act, King relocated to Austin in 1992. The title track from her 1998 debut album, Call of My Heart, won “Song of the Year” honors at the Austin Music Awards in 2002 after being covered by Toni Price. King and her group won the AMA’s “Best Roots Rock Band” honors in 2005. In 2008, the Texas legislature chose her as the first woman to be designated an Official State Musician of Texas, and in 2024 they gave King a grant to bring her live show to underserved areas of Texas as part of the Texas Commission on the Arts Rural Tours Initiative.
Shelley King on Tour
Sept. 19, Mercer Hall, Dripping Springs, TX (Shelley King Band, a Benefit for Dripping Springs YMCA)
Sept. 21, The 04 Center – Sonic Guild Artist Showcase, Austin, TX (Shelley & her band)
Sept. 24, Continental Club, Austin, TX (Shelley King and Carolyn Wonderland duo, Tuesday Residency)
Oct. 4, Cafe Wah?, New York, NY (Cindy Cashdollar, Shelley King, Carolyn Wonderland)
Oct. 5, The Falcon, Marlboro, NY (Cindy Cashdollar, Shelley King, Carolyn Wonderland)
Oct. 6, The Lizzie Rose, Tuckerton, NJ (Cindy Cashdollar, Shelley King, Carolyn Wonderland)
Oct. 8, Continental Club, Austin, TX (Shelley King and Carolyn Wonderland duo, Tuesday Residency)
Oct. 11, King Biscuits Blues Festival, Helena, AR (appearing with Carolyn Wonderland Band)
Oct. 12, Blue House Theatre, Warrenton, MO (appearing with Carolyn Wonderland Band)
Oct. 13, Smokin’ Willie’s, Galesburg, IN (appearing with Carolyn Wonderland Band)
Oct. 17 – The Roxy, Rochester, MI (appearing with Carolyn Wonderland Band)
Oct. 29, Continental Club, Austin, TX (Shelley King and Carolyn Wonderland duo, Tuesday Residency)
Nov. 9. Houston Blues Festival (appearing with Carolyn Wonderland Band)
Nov. 15, Oak United Methodist Church, Oakhill/Austin, TX (Oakhill Listening Room Concert Series)
Nov. 20, “Visit Austin ThanksFOREGiving” Fundraising event for Visit Austin Foundation (appearing with Carolyn Wonderland Band)
Nov. 21, Sam’s Burger Joint, San Antonio, TX (appearing with Carolyn Wonderland Band)
KingWonderBall Holiday Tour, with Shelley King, Carolyn Wonderland and Marcia Ball:
Dec. 4, Stars Over Wimberley, Wimberley, TX
Dec. 7, Texan Theater, Greensville, TX
Dec. 13, Spicewood Vineyards, Spicewood, TX
Dec. 19, Kessler Theater, Dallas, TX
Dec. 20, 04 Center, Austin, TX
Dec. 21, Heights Theater, Houston, TX
Dec. 22, Armadillo Christmas Bazaar at Palmer Events Center, Austin, TX (Shelley & her band)
Jan. 12, 2025, Sandy Beaches Cruise 25, Fort Lauderdale, FL
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