HLS 19RS-954 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 10
BY REPRESENTATIVE COX
COMMENDATIONS: Commends Tab Benoit on his 2019 induction into the Louisiana
Folklife Center Hall of Master Folk Artists
1 A RESOLUTION
2To commend Tab Benoit upon his 2019 induction into the Louisiana Folklife Center Hall
3 of Master Folk Artists.
4 WHEREAS, established in 1976, the Louisiana Folklife Center is a research facility
5that serves as an archival repository of eight hundred artist and subject files, one thousand
6five hundred audio recordings, one hundred videotapes, a growing print library of books and
7periodicals, and five thousand photographs; these resources have been used by CBS Evening
8News, Turner Broadcasting Company, and Louisiana Public Broadcasting and other
9individuals, groups, and agencies; its faculty also coordinates the Natchitoches-Northwestern
10State University Folklife Festival; and
11 WHEREAS, an agency of Northwestern State University, the Center's mission is to
12identify, document, and present Louisiana's rich history of folklore and folklife; and
13 WHEREAS, a foundational music genre of Louisiana's folklife is the blues, and
14Houma native Tab Benoit is known worldwide for his blues singing and guitar playing,
15which began in his teen years; Benoit is a regular at the Blues Box in Baton Rouge, where
16he learned from blues legends Tabby Thomas, Raful Neal, and Henry Gray; and
17 WHEREAS, Tab Benoit formed a trio in 1987 that toured across the United States;
18he received a Grammy nomination in 2006 for his album, Brother to the Blues in the
19category of Best Traditional Blues Album, and has been recognized as a B.B. King
20Entertainer of the Year and named by the Blues Music Awards as their Contemporary Blues
21Male Artist winner; and
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HR NO. 10
1 WHEREAS, in 2010, Tab Benoit was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of
2Fame; and
3 WHEREAS, Tab's earnest concern about the erosion of the wetlands in southern
4Louisiana drove him to establish Voice of the Wetlands in 2004; the volunteer-based
5nonprofit organization, composed of local artists and business leaders, champions the
6conservation of Louisiana's coastal wetlands, and for his efforts, Tab Benoit received the
7governor's award for Conservationist of the Year in 2010; and
8 WHEREAS, Tab Benoit is counted among Louisiana's best music artists, and he has
9demonstrated his love for his native state in his actions to conserve her coastal wetlands; Tab
10Benoit merits a special measure of commendation upon his 2019 induction into the
11Louisiana Folklife Center Hall of Master Folk Artists.
12 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
13Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Tab Benoit upon his 2019 induction into the
14Louisiana Folklife Center Hall of Master Folk Artists; does hereby congratulate him for a
15lifetime of musicianship and musical achievements; does hereby recognize and applaud his
16efforts to conserve and preserve the coastal wetlands of the state; and does hereby extend to
17him every good wish for continued success, prosperity, and happiness in the future.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
19to Tab Benoit.
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)]
HR 10 Original 2019 Regular Session Cox
Commends Tab Benoit on his 2019 induction into the La. Folklife Center Hall of Master
Folk Artists.
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