Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HR102 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	H.R. No. 102
2	2
3	3
4	4	R E S O L U T I O N
5	5	WHEREAS, Renowned Texas musician Robert Earl Keen brought 41
6	6	years of touring to a triumphant close in 2022, bidding a fond and
7	7	bittersweet farewell to cheering fans all across the country; and
8	8	WHEREAS, A Houston native, Mr. Keen first picked up a guitar
9	9	during his freshman year at Texas A&M University; he began playing
10	10	around town, and after graduation, he took a day job in Austin,
11	11	honed his chops, and won the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival
12	12	New Folk Songwriting Competition; following a well-trodden path, he
13	13	moved to Nashville and signed with a publishing company, but the
14	14	scene proved stultifying for an artist who thrived on stage and
15	15	wrote wry, folk-influenced songs with a novelist's keen eye for the
16	16	telling detail; and
17	17	WHEREAS, Returning home to Texas proved to be the best
18	18	possible career move; Mr. Keen came fully into his unique voice,
19	19	populating his lyrics with colorful characters like the migrant
20	20	gardener in "Mariano," the ne'er-do-well couple in "The Road Goes
21	21	on Forever," and the dysfunctional inebriates of "Merry Christmas
22	22	from the Family"; as he became one of the nation's top touring
23	23	artists, a host of stars covered his tunes, from Joe Ely, Nanci
24	24	Griffith, and George Strait to the Highwaymen, a supergroup of four
25	25	legendary songsmiths, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon
26	26	Jennings, and Willie Nelson; on the road and over more than 20
27	27	albums, Mr. Keen's rootsy blend of country, folk, rock, and blues
28	28	paved the way for numerous younger musicians who would benefit by
29	29	the growing popularity of a genre, dubbed Americana, that now has
30	30	its own Grammy category; with a podcast titled Americana, he has
31	31	helped raise the profile of many up-and-coming practitioners; he
32	32	has supported even younger musicians with annual benefit concerts
33	33	for the Hill Country Youth Orchestra; and
34	34	WHEREAS, Mr. Keen was named a Distinguished Alumnus of
35	35	Texas A&M in 2018; his myriad accolades further include membership
36	36	in the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association Hall of Fame, the
37	37	Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the Texas Institute of Letters; and
38	38	WHEREAS, Over Labor Day weekend 2022, Mr. Keen played his
39	39	final, sold-out shows at John T. Floore's Country Store in Helotes,
40	40	but although the road goes on without him, his creativity has always
41	41	flourished here at home, and melancholy fans may find solace in
42	42	anticipating the next additions to a magnificent body of work; now,
43	43	therefore, be it
44	44	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
45	45	Legislature hereby congratulate Robert Earl Keen on his retirement
46	46	from touring and honor him for his outstanding contributions to
47	47	Texas music; and, be it further
48	48	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
49	49	prepared for Mr. Keen as an expression of high regard by the Texas
50	50	House of Representatives.
51	51	Murr
52	52	______________________________
53	53	Speaker of the House
54	54	I certify that H.R. No. 102 was adopted by the House on March
55	55	8, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 2 present, not
56	56	voting.
57	57	______________________________
58	58	Chief Clerk of the House