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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For a half century, singer and guitarist Joe Paul |
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Nichols distinguished himself as one of the Lone Star State's |
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premier country and gospel musicians; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of O. W. and Myrtle Nichols, Joe Paul |
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Nichols was born in Cundiff in 1941; he learned to play guitar at |
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age nine, and his first break in the music industry came when he was |
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hired to contribute to the weekly country show Cowtown Hoedown; |
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after graduating from Jacksboro High School in 1960, he was a |
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regular performer on the Big D Jamboree television program; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1970, Mr. Nichols formed his own band, The Five |
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Pennies, and the group gained acclaim with their blend of country, |
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western swing, and country gospel music; over the course of his |
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prolific career, he shared the stage with numerous country music |
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luminaries and recorded 26 albums and more than 300 songs; he scored |
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a number one hit on the country gospel charts with "Jesus is the |
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Same in California," and in 2006, his song "Eleven Eighteen Nadine |
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Lane" captured Song of the Year honors from the Academy of Western |
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Artists; among his numerous accolades, he was inducted into the |
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Texas International Music Association Hall of Fame, and the |
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International Country Gospel Music Association named its lifetime |
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achievement award in his honor; moreover, he served as the music |
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director at Cundiff Baptist Church for 48 years; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Nichols maintained a day job throughout his |
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musical career, working as a state inspector for the Texas |
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Department of Transportation for 34 years and serving as the county |
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commissioner in Jack County for a decade; he retired from music in |
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2008 and passed away on July 27, 2011, at the age of 69; and |
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WHEREAS, With his exceptional talent and dedication to his |
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craft, Joe Paul Nichols earned a special place in the hearts of |
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innumerable people, and his musical legacy will continue to |
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resonate for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby commend Joe Paul Nichols for his contributions to country |
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and gospel music and pay tribute to the life and legacy of this |
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beloved Texas musician; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That when the Texas Senate adjourns this day, it do |
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so in honor of Joe Paul Nichols. |