H.R. No. 38
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         
  WHEREAS, Friends and fans of Tejano legend Laura Canales were
 
  deeply saddened by her untimely passing on April 16, 2005, at the
 
  age of 50; and
         
         WHEREAS, Born on August 19, 1954, in Kingsville, Ms. Canales
 
  was inspired to pursue a career in music by her choral director at
 
  H. M. King High School; although few women performed in the Tejano
 
  arena at the time, she made her recording debut with Los Unicos in
 
  1973, the same year of her high school graduation; she later
 
  performed with El Conjunto Bernal, Snowball & Company, and Encanto,
 
  and among her many hits were Eternamente, O Gran Dios, Cinco Canas
 
  Mas, and Si Vivi Contigo; an album released in 1977 ranked 10th on
 
  Billboard's "Hot Latin" chart, and her 1990 record, No Regrets,
 
  remained on the charts for 13 weeks; and
         
         WHEREAS, Much of this talented Texan's popularity derived
 
  from her rich and supple singing voice; known for delivering a
 
  soulful punch to her polkas, rancheras, and ballads, she won
 
  numerous Tejano Music Awards for Best Female Vocalist and Best
 
  Female Entertainer in the 1980s, and in 1983 Governor Mark White
 
  presented her with a "Yellow Rose of Texas" award; recognized for
 
  her loyalty to her roots while many other Tejano artists crossed
 
  over to English-language pop, she was included in the first class of
 
  inductees in the Tejano Roots Hall of Fame in 2000; and
         
         WHEREAS, Fun-loving and easygoing, Ms. Canales nevertheless
 
  was determined to continue her education and some 20 years after her
 
  high school graduation, she enrolled in courses at Texas A&M
 
  University--Kingsville; after earning her undergraduate degree in
 
  clinical psychology, she had begun working on her master's degree
 
  when she became ill; and
         
         WHEREAS, Known as "La Reina de la Onda Tejana," or "the Queen
 
  of the Tejano Wave," Laura Canales is credited with breaking gender
 
  barriers and opening doors for such artists as Selena, Jennifer
 
  Pena, and Shelly Lares; this gifted and beloved daughter of South
 
  Texas is truly missed, and the achievements of the First Lady of
 
  Tejano ensure that she will never be forgotten; now, therefore, be
 
  it
         
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
 
  Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Laura Canales on April
 
  16, 2011, the sixth anniversary of her death.
 
  Alonzo
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 38 was unanimously adopted by a rising
  vote of the House on February 24, 2011.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House