Bill Text: TX HR102 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Honoring Robert Earl Keen for his contributions to Texas music.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-03-16 - Reported enrolled [HR102 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR102-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 102 |
|
||
WHEREAS, Renowned Texas musician Robert Earl Keen brought 41 | ||
years of touring to a triumphant close in 2022, bidding a fond and | ||
bittersweet farewell to cheering fans all across the country; and | ||
WHEREAS, A Houston native, Mr. Keen first picked up a guitar | ||
during his freshman year at Texas A&M University; he began playing | ||
around town, and after graduation, he took a day job in Austin, | ||
honed his chops, and won the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival | ||
New Folk Songwriting Competition; following a well-trodden path, he | ||
moved to Nashville and signed with a publishing company, but the | ||
scene proved stultifying for an artist who thrived on stage and | ||
wrote wry, folk-influenced songs with a novelist's keen eye for the | ||
telling detail; and | ||
WHEREAS, Returning home to Texas proved to be the best | ||
possible career move; Mr. Keen came fully into his unique voice, | ||
populating his lyrics with colorful characters like the migrant | ||
gardener in "Mariano," the ne'er-do-well couple in "The Road Goes | ||
on Forever," and the dysfunctional inebriates of "Merry Christmas | ||
from the Family"; as he became one of the nation's top touring | ||
artists, a host of stars covered his tunes, from Joe Ely, Nanci | ||
Griffith, and George Strait to the Highwaymen, a supergroup of four | ||
legendary songsmiths, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon | ||
Jennings, and Willie Nelson; on the road and over more than 20 | ||
albums, Mr. Keen's rootsy blend of country, folk, rock, and blues | ||
paved the way for numerous younger musicians who would benefit by | ||
the growing popularity of a genre, dubbed Americana, that now has | ||
its own Grammy category; with a podcast titled Americana, he has | ||
helped raise the profile of many up-and-coming practitioners; he | ||
has supported even younger musicians with annual benefit concerts | ||
for the Hill Country Youth Orchestra; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Keen was named a Distinguished Alumnus of | ||
Texas A&M in 2018; his myriad accolades further include membership | ||
in the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association Hall of Fame, the | ||
Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Texas Institute of Letters; and | ||
WHEREAS, Over Labor Day weekend 2022, Mr. Keen played his | ||
final, sold-out shows at John T. Floore's Country Store in Helotes, | ||
but although the road goes on without him, his creativity has always | ||
flourished here at home, and melancholy fans may find solace in | ||
anticipating the next additions to a magnificent body of work; now, | ||
therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby congratulate Robert Earl Keen on his retirement | ||
from touring and honor him for his outstanding contributions to | ||
Texas music; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for Mr. Keen as an expression of high regard by the Texas | ||
House of Representatives. | ||
Murr | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 102 was adopted by the House on March | ||
8, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 2 present, not | ||
voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||