H.R. No. 2771 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Country music great Moe Bandy has made Lovelady an annual stop on his tour schedule, and many avid fans are delighted indeed to welcome him back to the historic Lovelady Old Gym on August 21, 2009, for the fifth consecutive year; and WHEREAS, Born February 12, 1944, in Meridian, Mississippi, Mr. Bandy moved to San Antonio with his family at the age of six; he was a rodeo rider during his high school years, until a succession of injuries ended that career; he became a sheet metal worker and sang in country nightclubs, and although his first record deal failed to lead to fame and fortune, he persevered, pawning furniture and taking out a loan to finance recording sessions; Footprint Records finally released 500 copies of his single "I Just Started Hatin' Cheatin' Songs Today," and fast-paced sales led the GRC label to acquire the rights to what would become Mr. Bandy's first Top 20 hit; and WHEREAS, The intrepid singer initially held on to his day job, but he soon became one of the brightest stars in country music; signed to Columbia Records, he hit No. 3 on the charts with "Hank Williams You Changed My Life," and he was named Most Promising Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music; his amazing string of honky-tonk hits during the 1970s and 1980s included "Here I Am Drunk Again," "She Just Loved the Cheatin' Out of Me," "Yesterday Once More," and "Barstool Mountain"; his duet with Janie Fricke, "It's a Cheatin' Situation," was a huge smash, and his album with Joe Stampley, Just Good Ol' Boys, became one of the top albums of 1979, bringing the pair a No. 1 hit and awards from the ACM and the Country Music Association; and WHEREAS, In 1988, a presidential candidate named George H. W. Bush adopted Mr. Bandy's song "Americana" as a campaign theme song, and Mr. Bandy went on to play at his inauguration and make two concert appearances at the White House; in subsequent years, he became one of the top draws in Branson, Missouri, while maintaining a busy schedule on the road; residents of Lovelady are honored that this country music icon feels so comfortable in their hometown that he has become a regular visitor; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature hereby recognize August 21, 2009, as Moe Bandy Day in Lovelady and extend to Mr. Bandy and his countless fans best wishes for an enjoyable event; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Bandy as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Hopson ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2771 was adopted by the House on May 31, 2009, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House