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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The year 2017 marks the 27th anniversary of the |
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death of Stevie Ray Vaughan, and this milestone provides a fitting |
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opportunity to reflect on the life and music of this Texas guitar |
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legend; and |
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WHEREAS, In the early morning hours of August 27, 1990, |
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Mr. Vaughan, then just 35 years of age, was killed in a helicopter |
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crash following a concert in Wisconsin; while his tragic death |
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robbed the world of a tremendous talent, it could not diminish the |
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many achievements this gifted musician realized during his brief |
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but brilliant career; and |
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WHEREAS, The pride of Oak Cliff, Stevie Ray Vaughan was born |
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in that Dallas community in 1954 and began playing in area bands |
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while still a student in junior high school; at age 17, he headed |
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for Austin, developing his explosive, blues-based style in the |
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city's music clubs; his years of hard work started to pay off after |
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he began performing with his legendary backup group, Double |
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Trouble, in the early 1980s; he got his first widespread exposure |
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when he played guitar on the David Bowie album Let's Dance, and he |
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released his own debut, Texas Flood, in 1983 to rave reviews; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the next seven years, Stevie Ray Vaughan |
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claimed his spot as one of the most influential rock and blues |
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guitarists of all time, with his smoldering fret work inspiring |
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everyone from music superstars to kids trying to learn their first |
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chords; all five albums he released during his lifetime became |
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million sellers, and his artistry was recognized with five Grammy |
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Awards, two of which were bestowed after his death; he also received |
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numerous other honors, and he and Double Trouble sold out concert |
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halls around the globe; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to achieving professional success, this |
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revered musician was able to overcome his addiction to drugs and |
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alcohol in the mid-1980s, and in the years that followed, he lent a |
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helping hand to other musicians who struggled with substance abuse; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A monument memorializing Stevie Ray Vaughan and his |
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brother and fellow blues icon Jimmie Vaughan is being erected in |
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2017 by the City of Dallas in Kiest Park, where the two often played |
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in their youth; the sculpture consists of four COR-TEN steel-framed |
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screens, with each panel displaying pictures of the hometown heroes |
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and their song lyrics cut into the metal; and |
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WHEREAS, Stevie Ray Vaughan's popularity has endured in the |
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decades since his passing, with younger generations embracing his |
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masterful guitar playing and heartfelt singing; fiery, evocative, |
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and full of Texas soul, his music has earned a special place in the |
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annals of American popular culture and is a source of pride and joy |
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for countless residents of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life and music of Stevie Ray |
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Vaughan on the 27th anniversary of his death and honor his |
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contributions to our state's rich musical heritage. |
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Alonzo |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1555 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 4, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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