Rhythm and Blues superstar Leon Bridges continues to be a proud ambassador for his hometown of Fort Worth. His Grammy-winning music career began here with his first album, Coming Home. He recorded it at Niles City Sound, which is located on the corner of Calhoun and Daggett Streets. Today, the city honored one of its favorite sons with a permanent reminder. A new street sign was unveiled as a display of affection for Leon Bridges.
Bridges was joined by family, friends, and city leaders for the occasion as the sign was unveiled on Tuesday, October 7, at noon.
Hear Fort Worth is the music promotion division of Visit Fort Worth. Tom Martens, was on hand for the festivities. He serves as VP of creative, film and music at Visit Fort Worth is also the Director of Fort Worth Music Office ― Hear Fort Worth. So was Chip Adams, the Director of the Texas Music Office, and Mayor Mattie Parker.
The sign topper now sits atop the street signage in front of Niles City Sound. That is the studio where Bridges recorded his breakout debut album Coming Home. Bridge’s first album went platinum, leading to three more albums and sold-out stadiums worldwide. He has developed a signature sound and style all his own.
His most recent release, Leon, was something of an ode to Fort Worth, where the performer returns again and again. He was courtside Monday evening at Dickies Arena to watch the Dallas Mavericks take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Also, in attendance was Leon Bridges’ close friend Abraham Alexander (who announced the Maverick players as they took to the court). Alexander has had his own path to stardom, beginning with stumbling into a gig as a background singer on Coming Home, and most recently was nominated by the Academy Awards for best song in the movie Sing Sing.
“The street sign pays tribute to his impact on the city’s cultural identity and the place where his journey first took shape,” according to Visit Fort Worth.
During the height of pandemic closures, which rocked so many local businesses, Kent & Co. Wines (now Magnolia Wine Bar event venue) opened its stage to Leon Bridges. While the world was shut down, Bridges was quarantining in Fort Worth and performed in a virtual concert/fundraiser benefiting all the struggling Southside businesses.
That first big philanthropic gift took place on Thursday, April 30, 2020. Leon Bridges was joined by a special guest ― Abraham Alexander. Together, they performed a free streaming concert to help rally support for the Southside C.A.R.E.S. Fund, resulting in over $163,000 raised.
As it turns out, that concert was one of the earliest virtual format concerts to be conceived, which soon became the norm for artists, audiences, and charities across the country.
Of course, Leon Bridges has continued raising money and awareness through his philanthropic work with The Big Good. He and former TCU head football coach Gary Patterson founded it in 2020 as well. So far, The Big Good has lived up to its name with more than $4-million raised for local charities meeting critical and unmet needs across the region.
We think Leon Bridges is more than a worthy recipient of such an honor in his hometown.
