Celebrating 30 Years at The Blue Door
- Greg Johnson
- May 30, 2023
- 1 min read
It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years now that I have been presenting songwriters to Oklahoma City audiences. It wasn’t planned, it was just a spontaneous action of mine to bring my friends from Austin to play songs, as I greatly missed them and all that a songwriter community entailed. I barely knew Mary Reynolds, yet I convinced her to let me bring my friends to her cozy confines on North McKinley, where she lived and also did some shows here and there under the moniker Hotel Bohemia. Before I even called it the Blue Door, Michael Fracasso came in January, 1993 and christened this place under my watch.
A few shows later in May 1993, it was named the Blue Door, celebrated by the first of many sold out shows with legendary Okie songwriter Kevin Welch. From then on I have just tried to bring the best songwriters I know to town and for the Blue Door to be the best listening room in the country. From Woody Guthrie to Jimmy Webb and John Fullbright, Oklahoma songwriters are fully represented among the many great songwriters and musicians from every part of the USA and Europe.
To this day, I have never cared about sold out shows for the sake of just the numbers. I only cared about the art and craft of the song, period. Case closed. Thanks to Warren Palmer who helped me get this going. Also to my niece Meghan, Tom Hall, Mike and Theresa Lander, Mike Thompson and other volunteers over the years.
See ya at a show soon!!
Greg Johnson
Really enjoyed reading about this 30-year celebration — it’s always inspiring to see organizations reaching such meaningful milestones and reflecting on their journey. The story had a warm, community-focused feel that made it very engaging. I recently saw a similar reflective piece on a review blog https://www.sherwaytrilliumdental.ca/, which also highlighted long-term impact and community value. Congratulations on the achievement and thanks for sharing the story.
it’s always great to see long-standing organizations being recognized for their contribution and consistency over the years. Reaching 30 years is a meaningful milestone, and the article does a nice job reflecting on that journey. Community-focused stories like this are always inspiring to read. I recently saw a similar discussion on a review blog https://thesagelawgroup.ca/, which also highlighted how storytelling helps preserve and share meaningful milestones.
Congratulations on reaching such an incredible milestone! It’s inspiring to see a venue remain a meaningful part of its community for three decades while continuing to support artists, music, and memorable experiences. The passion and dedication behind this achievement really come through in the post. I recently came across a similar story about community impact on https://www.masterstorage365.com/ and it offered an interesting perspective as well. Wishing everyone involved continued success and many more years of great memories ahead.
This is a wonderful milestone and a testament to the impact The Blue Door has had over the years. It’s inspiring to see a venue build such a lasting connection with its community while supporting artists and creating memorable experiences for audiences. I recently read a discussion on https://www.attn2detail.info/ about organizations reaching significant milestones, and it reminded me how meaningful long-term dedication can be. Congratulations on 30 years of success, and best wishes for many more to come!
What a wonderful milestone and an inspiring story. It was fascinating to read about the journey of building a space dedicated to songwriting, live music, and artistic expression over three decades. The passion for supporting talented musicians and creating meaningful experiences for audiences truly shines through. I recently came across a similar conversation on a review blog https://www.goprogaragedoorrepair.com/, and it offered an interesting perspective as well. Congratulations on 30 years, and thank you for continuing to celebrate and support great music.