Before Abraham Alexander became a national name following his Academy Award nomination, there was only one place that celebrated his music: Fort Worth.
His hometown provided him the stage to play his songs, he said, and gave him a community that believed in him — even when life was tough.
No matter how far he’s traveled to perform, the love for his city has stayed with him.
In a packed ballroom inside Bowie House, Fort Worth returned the love to Alexander by recognizing his musical contributions to the film industry with the Stephen Bruton Award, named for the Fort Worth musician.
The honor was presented by the Lone Star Film Festival in partnership with the Fort Worth Film Commission during a gala celebration Nov. 7, which served as closure for the festival’s 19th year of spotlighting independent filmmakers and the booming industry in Texas.
Past recipients of the Bruton award include Pat Green, Willie Nelson and Betty Buckley.
“This award doesn’t belong to me, it belongs to every friend, every mentor, every fellow musician who helped me carry the weight of my story,” Alexander said at the gala. “This award is an indication that the impossible is possible if we only come together as a collective.”
Earlier this year, Alexander became a household name when he received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for his tune “Like a Bird” from the prison drama “Sing Sing.” Although he didn’t secure the golden statue, he was lauded by city leaders for helping to elevate Fort Worth’s music community to a new level.
Before Alexander accepted the award, Fort Worth filmmaker Taylor Sheridan — known for creating “Landman” and “Yellowstone” — briefly shouted out the musician on stage for being “a dreamer who is living that dream.”
“(Fort Worth) is a city of dreamers and a unique place that is reinvested into the arts so more can do the same,” Sheridan said.
The Lone Star Film Festival also recognized Academy Award-nominated actor Sam Elliott with the Bill Paxton Achievement in Film Award for his “bold and risk-taking artistry” throughout his decadeslong career.
Elliott is best known for his work portraying Western heroes and outlaws in films and TV shows. He is joining the ensemble cast of “Landman” for its upcoming second season. The series had its Fort Worth red carpet premiere earlier this week.
The award named for Fort Worth actor Bill Paxton was previously presented to Luke Wilson, Paul Schrader and Jane Seymour.
“Sam Elliott’s storied career, especially his iconic contributions to the Western genre, resonates deeply with a festival rooted in a city so closely tied to Western heritage,” Chad Mathews, executive director of the Lone Star Film Society, said in a statement.
As Elliott accepted the recognition, he joked with the room about how strange it was to see himself — a kid from California — receive an award from “a bunch of Texans.” He shared his gratitude for the state, explaining how his parents originated from El Paso and that one of his ancestors served as a surgeon at the Battle of San Jacinto.
“My dad always thought I was nuts wanting to pursue a career as an actor,” he told the audience. “My dad died when he was 54, so he never got to see me have a career in the business. My mom saw most of it, but I know my dad would be really proud of me standing up here tonight.”
Following remarks, Alexander returned to the stage with guitar-in-hand to perform his hit song “Like a Bird.”
As he sang each lyric, he looked almost like he might lift off the stage, ready to “fly, fly, fly.”
David Moreno is the arts and culture reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org or @davidmreports.
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
Related
Republishing is free for noncommercial entities. Commercial entities are prohibited without a licensing agreement. Contact us for details.
Great Job David Moreno & the Team @ Fort Worth Report for sharing this story.
