Greenville in Hunt County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Hometown Musicians

Photographed by James Hulse, July 28, 2025

1. Hometown Musicians Marker

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Hometown Musicians. . Bart Millard , Bart Millard was born in Greenville on Dec. 1, 1972. Millard is a singer and songwriter best known as the leader of the band MercyMe, which recorded six independent, ten studio, two Christmas and three compilation albums. Millard's song "I Can Only Imagine" was inspired by his father's death and was made into a film also titled I Can Only Imagine, released in 2018., He released two solo albums: Hymned, No. 1 in 2005 and Hymned Again in 2008. He received a solo grammy nomination in the category of Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album for the latter album., Ben Kweller , Ben Kweller was born in San Francisco on June 16, 1981. His family moved to Greenville in 1986. His father taught him to play the drums when he was 7. They would play together almost every night after his father got off work., When Kweller was 8, someone showed him how to play "Heart and Soul" on the piano and he began to create his own songs using the same chords. By the time he was 9, he had a dozen original compositions under his belt and entered a songwriting contest sponsored by Billboard magazine, where he won an honorable mention. When Kweller was 19, he moved to New York where he began his solo career. He played solo acoustic shows and self-released four EPs. It was one of these EPs, Freak Out, It's Ben Kweller, that caught the attention of Evan Dando of The Lemonheads. Kweller was soon touring with Dando, Juliana Hatfield, Jeff Tweedy, and the Guster Band., From anthemic bangers to thoughtful ballads, it's a diverse bag that so far spans six albums, four EPs and multiple singles. Some of them included EP Phone Home and albums Sha Sha, On My Way, Changing Horses, Go Fly a Kite and Circuit Boredom. Kweller earned his first Emmy nomination for Go Fly a Kite in 2012. This was also the first nomination for the new production company he had started called The Noise Company. In addition to being a recording artist, Kweller is also a producer and songwriter., After taking a five-year hiatus, Kweller went on a stadium tour across Europe opening for Ed Sheeran in 2019. That summer he also performed at Sheeran's wedding. His latest album as of 2023 is Circuit Boredom, released on December 17, 2021.

Bart Millard
Bart Millard was born in Greenville on Dec. 1, 1972. Millard is a singer and songwriter best known as the leader of the band MercyMe, which recorded six independent, ten studio, two Christmas and three compilation albums. Millard's song "I Can Only Imagine" was inspired by his father's death and was made into a film also titled I Can Only Imagine, released in 2018.

He released two solo albums: Hymned, No. 1 in 2005 and Hymned Again in 2008. He received a solo grammy nomination in the category of Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album for the latter album.

Ben Kweller
Ben Kweller was born in San Francisco on June 16, 1981. His family moved to Greenville in 1986. His father taught him to play the drums when he was 7. They would play together almost every night after his father got off work.

When Kweller was 8, someone showed him how to play "Heart and Soul" on the piano and he began to create his own songs using the same chords. By the time he was 9, he had a dozen original compositions under his belt and entered a songwriting contest sponsored by Billboard magazine, where he won an honorable mention. When Kweller was 19, he moved to New York where he began his solo career. He played solo acoustic shows and self-released four EPs. It was one of these EPs, Freak Out, It's Ben Kweller, that caught the attention of Evan Dando of The Lemonheads. Kweller was soon touring with Dando, Juliana Hatfield, Jeff Tweedy, and the Guster Band.

From anthemic bangers to thoughtful ballads, it's a diverse bag that so far spans six albums, four EPs and multiple singles. Some of them included EP Phone Home and albums Sha Sha, On My Way, Changing Horses, Go Fly a Kite and Circuit Boredom. Kweller earned his first Emmy nomination for Go Fly a Kite in 2012. This was also the first nomination for

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the new production company he had started called The Noise Company. In addition to being a recording artist, Kweller is also a producer and songwriter.

After taking a five-year hiatus, Kweller went on a stadium tour across Europe opening for Ed Sheeran in 2019. That summer he also performed at Sheeran's wedding. His latest album as of 2023 is Circuit Boredom, released on December 17, 2021.

Erected by Audie Murphy / American Cotton Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical date for this entry is June 16, 1981.

Location. 33° 7.535′ N, 96° 5.37′ W. Marker is in Greenville, Texas, in Hunt County. It is on Interstate 30 Frontage Road ¼ mile Division Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is located on the grounds of the Audie Murphy / American Cotton Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 I-30 Frontage Rd, Greenville TX 75401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region

and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South.

Globally,

Hometown Musicians Marker - Reverse Side image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, July 28, 2025

2. Hometown Musicians Marker - Reverse Side

it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Industry & Business (here, next to this marker); Industry & Businesses (a few steps from this marker); Early Settlers / Mercer Colony (a few steps from this marker); Transportation / Blackland Prairie (a few steps from this marker); Ende-Gaillard House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Sixties (within shouting distance of this marker); Sports (within shouting distance of this marker); Early Industry & Business (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenville.

Hometown Musicians Marker (left marker) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, July 28, 2025

3. Hometown Musicians Marker (left marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 2, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 81 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 3, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.