H.R. No. 148
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, An American icon and renowned Texas troubadour,
Willie Nelson has brought joy to people around the world for half a
century and more; and
WHEREAS, The son of Myrle and Ira Nelson, Willie Hugh Nelson
was born in Abbott on April 30, 1933; he and his older sister,
Bobbie, were raised by their paternal grandparents, who encouraged
their musical talents; while still just a child, he began playing
guitar in a polka band, and he and his sister later played on the
local club circuit with Bud Fletcher and the Texans; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Nelson found work in the 1950s as a DJ in Fort
Worth and performed in local honky-tonks; he wrote his famous
gospel song "Family Bible," and his songs soon became smash hits for
Ray Price, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, and many other stars; today,
such early compositions as "Night Life," "Crazy," "Hello Walls,"
and "Funny How Time Slips Away" remain treasured classics; and
WHEREAS, After living in Nashville, he came to Austin in 1970
and found his own audience as a leading proponent of "outlaw
country," incorporating rock 'n' roll, folk, and other influences;
he started a new Texas tradition with his freewheeling Fourth of
July picnics, and in 1975 he made a commercial breakthrough with Red
Headed Stranger; duets with Waylon Jennings on "Good Hearted Woman"
and "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" brought even
greater success, and his album of standards, Stardust, spent nearly
a decade on the country charts and sold more than four million
copies; and
WHEREAS, His film career took off with roles in The Electric
Horseman and Honeysuckle Rose, and the latter yielded a signature
song, "On the Road Again"; Mr. Nelson and Julio Iglesias ruled the
airwaves with their crossover duet "To All the Girls I've Loved
Before," and Mr. Nelson united with Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash,
and Kris Kristofferson in the supergroup the Highwaymen for a host
of hits; and
WHEREAS, In the 1990s, Mr. Nelson continued his streak on the
country charts with such albums as Across the Borderline, and the
present decade has found the prolific Texan mining a variety of
musical veins, even topping the jazz charts with Two Men with the
Blues, his collaboration with Wynton Marsalis; Mr. Nelson joined
with Asleep at the Wheel to celebrate western swing on the 2009
release Willie and the Wheel, and he received three Grammy
nominations that year; his latest album, Country Music, is up for a
Grammy in the Americana category, and "On the Road Again" is being
inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, While maintaining a heavy touring and recording
schedule through the years, Mr. Nelson has made time for numerous
charitable endeavors; he helped launch Farm Aid in 1985 and serves
as president of the organization, which has raised more than $30
million to support family farms; when his hometown struggled, Mr.
Nelson came to the rescue, and he continues to support its church
and grocery store; his concern for the environment has led him to
not only promote the use of alternative fuels but also invest in
biodiesel, marketing his own BioWillie brand; moreover, he has
established the Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute, advocated
for the humane treatment of horses, and headlined countless
benefits for those in need; and
WHEREAS, The myriad professional accolades bestowed on Mr.
Nelson include seven Grammys, nine Country Music Association
Awards, and Kennedy Center honors, and he was inducted into the
Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993; widely applauded for his good
works as well, he is an honorary trustee of the Dayton Peace Museum
and has received the B. B. King Blues Hero Award for community
service and the Bridging Divides Award from The University of Texas
Project on Conflict Resolution and Humanitarians Engaged in
Respectful Dialogue; and
WHEREAS, Through his incomparable music and his tireless
philanthropy, Willie Nelson has made an enormous positive
difference in the world around him, and it is indeed a pleasure to
recognize him for his accomplishments; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby honor Willie Nelson for his outstanding music
career and for his myriad contributions to the Lone Star State and
extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Nelson as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Davis of Dallas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 148 was adopted by the House on
January 20, 2011, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House