HLS 15RS-1437 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 78
BY REPRESENTATIVE MORENO
COMMENDATIONS: Commends Tonya Boyd-Cannon for her extraordinary musical
talents and her performance on "The Voice"
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To commend Tonya Boyd-Cannon for her extraordinary musical talents, her outstanding
3 performance on The Voice, and for the tremendous pride she brings to the state of
4 Louisiana.
5 WHEREAS, it is appropriate to commend Tonya Boyd-Cannon, a gifted musical
6artist who was selected as a contestant on the eighth season of The Voice; and
7 WHEREAS, born in Mississippi and the daughter of a preacher, Tonya Boyd-Cannon
8grew up playing the saxophone and singing in choirs; and
9 WHEREAS, Ms. Boyd-Cannon resides in Chalmette with her loving and supportive
10husband and her daughter and son; she is a graduate of Warren Easton High School; upon
11her graduation, she became a back-up vocalist for Jean Knight and performed at Jazz Fest
12on numerous occasions and many other events; and
13 WHEREAS, she attended Dillard University and later accepted a job at the Orleans
14Parish Prison, where she became a deputy and worked with the prison's male inmate choir
15and later founded a jailhouse choir for women; currently, she teaches with the Little Village
16Youth Ensemble at Dillard University and serves as the music director at St. James AME
17Church and Austerlitz Street Baptist Church; and
18 WHEREAS, Ms. Boyd-Cannon recorded her debut album titled "Rise My Child" and
19after Hurricane Katrina, spent two years in Jackson, Mississippi, and was awarded a
20scholarship to study vocal performance and music at Tougaloo College; in 2011, Ms. Boyd-
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HCR NO. 78
1Cannon returned to New Orleans and tirelessly networked throughout the music community
2while teaching music and art; and
3 WHEREAS, she was a guest of the Stooges Brass Band at the 2012 Jazz Fest, and
4at the 2013 festival, she performed her own song, "In New Orleans"; and
5 WHEREAS, in 2014, she attended an open audition for the nationally televised talent
6show at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center; her fairly rare contralto voice earned her
7a ticket to a final audition in Los Angeles, California, and afterwards she received the call
8she had been waiting for, stating that she would sing for celebrity judges during the show's
9televised auditions; and
10 WHEREAS, Ms. Boyd-Cannon chose to sing Pharrell Williams' song, "Happy", for
11her blind audition and within minutes she captured the attention of the judges; she worked
12with Adam Levine to advance throughout the show's season; and
13 WHEREAS, during her time on The Voice, Ms. Boyd-Cannon shined in the spotlight
14of the national stage, and she has been a wonderful ambassador for the state of Louisiana;
15and
16 WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of its communities,
17and the overall vitality of American society depend, in great measure, upon artists like Tonya
18Boyd-Cannon, who serves as an inspiration to others because of her integrity and her
19steadfast dedication to honing her craft; and
20 WHEREAS, Tonya Boyd-Cannon and her special talents serve as a shining example
21of the incredible talent in Louisiana, and upon her memorable and historic run on The Voice,
22she merits a special measure of sincere and heartfelt commendation and congratulations.
23 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
24commend Tonya Boyd-Cannon for her extraordinary musical talents and achievements; does
25hereby extend enduring appreciation for the wonderful way in which her music touches the
26lives of countless people throughout the state of Louisiana and the United States of America;
27and does hereby extend to her best wishes for continued success and happiness in her future
28endeavors.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
30to Tonya Boyd-Cannon.
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HCR NO. 78
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 78 Original 2015 Regular Session Moreno
Commends Tonya Boyd-Cannon for her musical achievements, her performance on The
Voice, and for the pride she brings to La.
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