88R8941 BPG-D
By: Murr H.R. No. 102
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Renowned Texas musician Robert Earl Keen brought 41
years of touring to a triumphant close in 2022, bidding a fond and
bittersweet farewell to cheering fans all across the country; and
WHEREAS, A Houston native, Mr. Keen first picked up a guitar
during his freshman year at Texas A&M University; he began playing
around town, and after graduation, he took a day job in Austin,
honed his chops, and won the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival
New Folk Songwriting Competition; following a well-trodden path, he
moved to Nashville and signed with a publishing company, but the
scene proved stultifying for an artist who thrived on stage and
wrote wry, folk-influenced songs with a novelist's keen eye for the
telling detail; and
WHEREAS, Returning home to Texas proved to be the best
possible career move; Mr. Keen came fully into his unique voice,
populating his lyrics with colorful characters like the migrant
gardener in "Mariano," the ne'er-do-well couple in "The Road Goes
on Forever," and the dysfunctional inebriates of "Merry Christmas
from the Family"; as he became one of the nation's top touring
artists, a host of stars covered his tunes, from Joe Ely, Nanci
Griffith, and George Strait to the Highwaymen, a supergroup of four
legendary songsmiths, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon
Jennings, and Willie Nelson; on the road and over more than 20
albums, Mr. Keen's rootsy blend of country, folk, rock, and blues
paved the way for numerous younger musicians who would benefit by
the growing popularity of a genre, dubbed Americana, that now has
its own Grammy category; with a podcast titled Americana, he has
helped raise the profile of many up-and-coming practitioners; he
has supported even younger musicians with annual benefit concerts
for the Hill Country Youth Orchestra; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Keen was named a Distinguished Alumnus of
Texas A&M in 2018; his myriad accolades further include membership
in the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association Hall of Fame, the
Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Texas Institute of Letters; and
WHEREAS, Over Labor Day weekend 2022, Mr. Keen played his
final, sold-out shows at John T. Floore's Country Store in Helotes,
but although the road goes on without him, his creativity has always
flourished here at home, and melancholy fans may find solace in
anticipating the next additions to a magnificent body of work; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Robert Earl Keen on his retirement
from touring and honor him for his outstanding contributions to
Texas music; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Keen as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.