H.R. No. 2357
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Texas native Jack Ingram has been selected for
induction into the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame as a member of the
Class of 2024; and
WHEREAS, Each year, the Texas Heritage Songwriters
Association holds an annual hall of fame awards ceremony to
recognize songwriters who represent the spirit of the Lone Star
State; and
WHEREAS, One of the most successful artists to emerge from
the 1990s "Texas Country" scene, Jack Owen Ingram grew up in The
Woodlands loving country music but did not begin playing guitar and
writing songs until his freshman year at Southern Methodist
University; early in his career, he cut his teeth at Adair's Saloon,
an institution of the Deep Ellum entertainment district, and he and
his band quickly gained a reputation across the state for their
charismatic live performances; at the age of 22, he self-released
his debut, Jack Ingram, featuring takes on Willie Nelson and Robert
Earl Keen tunes as well as the original "Beat Up Ford," a song that
would become an anthem to a generation of Texas country music fans;
he cemented his status as one of the state's most promising
songwriters with his subsequent albums, Lonesome Questions and Live
at Adair's, which sold tens of thousands of copies despite a lack of
major label support; and
WHEREAS, Warner Music Group signed Mr. Ingram to its Rising
Tide offshoot in 1996, and he recorded Livin' or Dyin' with the
support of legendary Texas songwriter Steve Earle; the label folded
shortly after releasing the album, and he was then picked up by
Sony's Lucky Dog imprint, where he released Hey You in 1999 and
Electric in 2002, albums widely regarded as two of his best; he
scored a number one country single with "Wherever You Are," in 2005,
and his eighth studio album, Big Dreams & High Hopes, featured the
top-10 hit, "Barefoot and Crazy"; in the following decade, he found
further success with Midnight Motel, one of his most personal and
heartfelt efforts; The Marfa Tapes, his 2021 release with Miranda
Lambert and Jon Randall, was nominated for a Grammy Award for best
country album; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Mr. Ingram has given generously of
his time and talents to countless charitable groups, and his work as
part of Mack, Jack, and McConaughey with former football coach Mack
Brown and actor Matthew McConaughey has raised millions of dollars
for children's causes; a mentor to younger artists, Mr. Ingram is
also a supporter of Texas Songwriter U, an annual program
consisting of a songwriting competition, an educational workshop,
and a showcase event; and
WHEREAS, With his beautifully crafted songs that exemplify
the independent spirit of Texas music, Jack Ingram has earned a
special place in the pantheon of singer-songwriters from the Lone
Star State, and he is indeed deserving of this prestigious honor;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Jack Ingram on his selection as a
2024 inductee into the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame and extend to
him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Ingram as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Holland
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2357 was adopted by the House on May
29, 2023, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House