| 1 | 1 | | By: Wentworth S.C.R. No. 35 |
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| 2 | 2 | | (Miller of Comal) |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The State of Texas has traditionally recognized a |
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| 7 | 7 | | variety of official state symbols as tangible representations of |
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| 8 | 8 | | the proud spirit and heritage of our state; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, In the field of music, Texas has nurtured important |
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| 10 | 10 | | developments in a variety of genres, but of the many styles that |
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| 11 | 11 | | have thrived here, one is particularly emblematic of our state's |
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| 12 | 12 | | unique character: western swing; and |
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| 13 | 13 | | WHEREAS, A lively sound that has enjoyed enduring popularity |
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| 14 | 14 | | over the course of nearly a century, western swing reflects the |
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| 15 | 15 | | ethnic diversity of Texas by encompassing many of the musical |
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| 16 | 16 | | traditions that were introduced to the state by the groups that |
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| 17 | 17 | | settled here; and |
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| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, The genre, also known by the fitting name of Texas |
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| 19 | 19 | | swing, traces its origins to the 1920s and is rooted in the fiddle |
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| 20 | 20 | | music of Anglo, Irish, and Scottish immigrants; it borrows heavily |
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| 21 | 21 | | from many other sources, however, including such African American |
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| 22 | 22 | | influences as blues and jazz, the Hispanic genres of conjunto and |
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| 23 | 23 | | mariachi, and the polkas, waltzes, and schottisches brought to |
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| 24 | 24 | | Texas by German and Czech settlers; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Though western swing has become popular throughout |
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| 26 | 26 | | the Southwest and beyond, its origins are firmly tied to the Lone |
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| 27 | 27 | | Star State; growing out of the music that was played in the state's |
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| 28 | 28 | | small-town dance halls, the style became better known through the |
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| 29 | 29 | | work of Texans Milton Brown and Bob Wills, two of the most famous |
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| 30 | 30 | | and influential swing artists of all time; these pioneers formed |
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| 31 | 31 | | the Light Crust Doughboys in the Fort Worth area in the early 1930s |
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| 32 | 32 | | and then went on to even greater fame while leading individual bands |
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| 33 | 33 | | of their own; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, A key to the appeal of this spirited music is its |
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| 35 | 35 | | exceptional ability to get people dancing; this quality, too, is |
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| 36 | 36 | | evocative of Texas, a state in which dance halls have historically |
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| 37 | 37 | | been central to the social life of its communities; today, the |
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| 38 | 38 | | foot-tapping tempo of western swing continues to be heard all |
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| 39 | 39 | | across our state, with countless Texans repeating the time-honored |
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| 40 | 40 | | steps that have been kicking up sawdust on Texas dance floors for |
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| 41 | 41 | | generations; and |
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| 42 | 42 | | WHEREAS, Born and bred in Texas, western swing is a musical |
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| 43 | 43 | | melting pot that represents the diverse groups that have |
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| 44 | 44 | | contributed to the growth and prosperity of our state and the |
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| 45 | 45 | | distinctive way of life that has flourished here, and it is indeed a |
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| 46 | 46 | | fitting symbol for the rich cultural heritage that is shared by all |
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| 47 | 47 | | Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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| 48 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 49 | 49 | | hereby designate western swing as the official State Music of |
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| 50 | 50 | | Texas. |
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