H.R. No. 188
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Today the Texas House of Representatives honors the
many accomplishments and generous contributions of a great Texan
and a legendary musician and composer, Joe Sample; and
WHEREAS, Born in Houston on February 1, 1939, Joseph Leslie
Sample was playing the piano at the age of five; he was already
soaking in all the various musical influences of Houston's Fifth
Ward, from gospel to rock and roll, from Latin to soul to zydeco,
and from jazz and blues to classical music; and
WHEREAS, With his boyhood friends Wayne Henderson, Wilton
Felder, and Stix Hooper, Joe Sample formed a group in high school
called the Swingsters; they continued to play together while
attending Texas Southern University, then moved to Los Angeles in
1960; renaming the group the Jazz Crusaders, they gained a national
reputation playing jazz inflected by what they had heard growing up
on the streets of Houston; and
WHEREAS, Changing their name again in 1971, the musicians
became simply the Crusaders, and their fusion of jazz, soul, and
rhythm and blues became one of the signature sounds of American
popular music; working with such performers as Marvin Gaye, Joni
Mitchell, and Steely Dan, they recorded a series of iconic albums,
including The Second Crusade, Unsung Heroes, Southern Comfort,
Chain Reaction, and Those Southern Knights, culminating in 1979
with their international hit "Street Life"; and
WHEREAS, Joe Sample's first solo album, Rainbow Seeker,
released in 1978, was a masterpiece of lyricism and introspection;
his catalog of songs from "Street Life" to "When Your Life Was Low"
to "Dear Mama" has been covered by a multitude of artists; Nicole
Kidman sang his hit "Someday I'll Fly Away" in the film Moulin
Rouge, and his recordings have been sampled by contemporary artists
including Tupac, Queen Latifah, Ice Cube, Destiny's Child, and Lil'
Bow Wow; a sought-after keyboardist, he has performed throughout
the years with such artists as Eric Clapton, B. B. King, Tina
Turner, Joan Baez, the Beach Boys, George Benson, and Gladys
Knight; and
WHEREAS, He continues to write and perform to great acclaim;
his recent recordings include the Crusaders reunion Rural Renewal;
his collaboration with vocalist Randy Crawford, entitled Feeling
Good; and his 2002 release, The Pecan Tree, which highlights the
music and culture of southeast Texas; and
WHEREAS, In 2005, he returned to his hometown of Houston and
established the Joe Sample Youth Organization, through which he
raises money for inner-city schools, including his old elementary
school, Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School, the oldest
historically African American elementary school in Houston;
through a series of concerts, Mr. Sample has raised over $100,000
for the schools; his third annual fund-raising concert is scheduled
for September of this year; and
WHEREAS, Joe Sample's contributions to the musical heritage
of the Lone Star State are immeasurable, and he remains one of
America's most influential performers and composers; the joy and
excitement he has brought generations of fans are matched only by
his selfless and committed service to his community, and his
enormous talent is matched only by his generous heart; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby honor Joe Sample for the gift of his music and
for his devotion to his community and extend to him very best wishes
for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Sample as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Dutton
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 188 was adopted by the House on
January 27, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House