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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The City of Rockwall has long been committed to |
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fostering a dynamic arts scene in its community, and live music has |
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played a vital role in that mission; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1999, the city government launched the Concert by |
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the Lake Series, a four-week program of free concerts on the eastern |
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shore of Lake Ray Hubbard; an instant triumph, the series |
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spotlighted regional bands, with each show averaging 175 attendees |
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during the inaugural season; the increasing popularity of the |
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series caused it to be relocated to The Harbor, a retail and |
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entertainment development, in 2007, and two years later, the |
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program was expanded to offer 24 consecutive weeks of live music |
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annually; since that time, the concerts have regularly drawn crowds |
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of more than 7,000 people; and |
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WHEREAS, The success of the Concert by the Lake Series led to |
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the formation of the city's Live Music Project, which has provided |
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invaluable support to area artists and brought a wide variety of |
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musical genres to the community; among the project's many benefits |
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has been the creation of several outdoor venues, including |
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amphitheaters at The Harbor and at Harry Myers Park and two |
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permanent stages in the Historic Downtown District; those locations |
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have hosted numerous visiting headliners as well as Rockwall Summer |
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Musicals, the Rockwall Philharmonic Orchestra, and the San Jacinto |
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Plaza Music Series, which presents over 50 free concerts each year; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Since 2004, the annual Rockwall Founders Day |
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Festival has placed special emphasis on live music by featuring |
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regional groups and world-touring acts alike, including such Texas |
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music legends as Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Asleep at |
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the Wheel, as well as the Little River Band, the Marshall Tucker |
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Band, and the Charlie Daniels Band; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the efforts of the City of Rockwall, local |
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residents are now able to enjoy nearly 130 free live music |
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performances each year, and the town's growing reputation as an |
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important music hub has made it a popular destination for travelers |
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from across Texas and beyond; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate the city of Rockwall as the official Live Music |
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Capital of North Texas and urge that free live music continue to be |
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readily available to the residents and visitors of the Lone Star |
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State; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section |
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391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in effect |
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until the 10th anniversary of its designation. |