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LARRY MONROE FOREVER
Not only did we identify Larry Monroe’s unique voice with Texas music on the radio, but we were so privileged to often see Larry taking walks in the Dawson Neighborhood during the last years of his life.
Below is a piece submitted to our newsletter by Ave Bonar:
Dear Dawson Neighbors,
In December the City of Austin and Austin Arts Commission approved a plan for “The Larry Monroe Forever Bridge,” which will be a tribute mosaic for the late Austin DJ, Larry Monroe. Larry was a beloved musicologist who hosted iconic radio programs on KUT-FM for 29 years and KDRP Sun Radio for three. Three of his popular programs include Blue Monday and Phil Music as well as Texas Radio Live, which is ongoing at Güero’s oak garden every Wednesday night from 6 -8 pm.
Larry worked tirelessly not only to entertain his listeners but also to educate them. He was knowledgeable about many genres of music, but his specialty was Austin and Texas songwriters, and he never stopped promoting them. Larry made an enormous cultural contribution to Austin and is one of the reasons Austin has become known as the Live Music Capital of the World.
The tribute mosaic will be on the small bridge on Eastside Drive, just north of Monroe Street between Big Stacy and Little Stacy Parks. This is a community project by and for the people of Austin and anyone who wishes to may help. Dawson artist Stefanie Distefano and I will head up a revolving team of volunteers who will create all the ceramic tiles for the mosaic.
Among other projects in our neighborhood, Stefanie has created mosaics at Torchy’s on El Paso, the creek bridge on El Paso, and a wall bordering the Phoenix House on Live Oak.
I’m fundraising for the project on Crowdrise, and each contributor will get a tile with his or her name on it included in the mosaic. To donate or learn more about the project, please follow the “On Crowdrise” link at the top of the page.
If you would like to help make tiles or assist in the final production of the mosaic, you can email me at ave@avebonar.com and I’ll be sure you receive the production schedule.
Many thanks!
Ave Bonar on Forest Avenue
