Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi), musician Chris Perez and other inductees into the Texas Music Walk of Fame cut the ribbon on six new stars installed at Water Street Market in Downtown Corpus Christi on June 3. Courtesy photo
A Texas Music Heritage Trail may soon be mapped through Corpus Christi now that House Bill 2079 has been sent to the governor’s office. No veto is expected for the bill, which was sponsored by Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi). The bill proposes a framework for establishing Texas Music Trails across the state through the Texas Historical Commission’s existing Texas Heritage Trails program.
“This legislation will help create a virtual roadmap and itineraries to guide tourists to music destinations throughout the state of Texas as well as our South Texas region,” Hunter said in a news release. “This is a great way of promoting tourism and creating economic development and highlighting our vibrant music culture.”
Hunter tied the bill’s fate to the success of his Power On Music Conference, which was held in Corpus Christi last October. The conference drew panelists and participants from the Texas Music Office, the ATX Music and Entertainment Division for the city of Austin and a wide variety of music industry celebrities and experts. The two-day conference featured workshops and panels on exploring careers in the industry, forming music-friendly communities and the live music economy.
“Music is an important factor in our economy,” Hunter told Corpus Christi Business News before the conference last year. “The Selena tribute (Fiesta de la Flor) brings in huge crowds and has a huge economic impact. We have lots of concerts throughout the city. We are home to the official Texas Jazz Festival. Corpus Christi music provides an indirect strong economic impact to the whole Coastal Bend.”
Selena is not the only big name that would be included on a Texas Music Trail map.
“We have Freddy Fender, the Galvan family and more,” Hunter said. “I would like to promote travel tourism in our area by adding South Texas to the list of Music Travel Trails.”
In fact, the Galvan Ballroom recently received a Texas Historical Commission marker and registered landmark designation. A ceremony celebrating the event was held at the ballroom June 2. In 2015, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and named a Texas Hispanic Heritage site.
One day later, six new stars were placed on the Texas Music Walk of Fame at Water Street Market in downtown Corpus Christi. The June 3 ceremony honored Chris Perez, former lead guitarist for Selena y los Dinos; the Texas Jazz Festival; and Beto y Los Fairlanes.
“Designating Corpus Christi as one of Texas’s Music Trails is a way of promoting economic development but with a fun ethic,” said Hunter, who is a musician in his own right.
Now an attorney, the Corpus Christi GOP member of the House of Representatives used to play
