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.