Photo courtesy of Jess Garland via Instagram.
Jess Garland is one of five musicians named a Local Legend this year.
As part of the recognition, she has received $10,000 to donate to Deep Ellum 100, a nonprofit that supports the musicians, visual artists, service industry workers and small businesses in the neighborhood.
Over the past five years, actor and Texas native Matthew McConaughey has partnered with Wild Turkey to honor Local Legends: people who have shown courage, conviction and confidence amid difficult times. This year, the five honorees are people who worked to keep local music scenes alive during the pandemic.
“Music can heal, inspire, transform and take us on time traveling trips to where we’ve already been and where we want to go. With a rhythm, a rhyme, a hook and a beat, music is a soundtrack to our lives individually, as groups and as a people,” McConaughey, the creative director of the company, said in a statement. “Musicians are outlaws, poets, performers and prognosticators — and we need to keep them taking the stage. With that said, it’s vital that we invest in these local music scenes — to keep the lights on at our favorite venues and nurture the next generation of great live performers.”
Garland, an East Dallas neighbor, founded Swan Strings, which provides free music lessons to children.
