By Reyna H.R. No. 57
74R1620 PAN-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The Light Crust Doughboys are widely regarded as one
1-2 of this state's most precious natural resources, having delighted
1-3 audiences from throughout the world as the pioneers and premier
1-4 performers of that unique musical genre known as western swing for
1-5 the past six decades; and
1-6 WHEREAS, The history of the band dates back to 1931 when the
1-7 Wills Fiddle Band, comprising Bob Wills on fiddle, Herman Arnspiger
1-8 on guitar, and Milton Brown on vocals, persuaded the Burrus Mill
1-9 and Elevator Company to sponsor the band on a radio show that would
1-10 advertise the mill's Light Crust Flour; after two weeks of
1-11 broadcasts, the president of Burrus Mill and future governor of
1-12 Texas, W. Lee O'Daniel, canceled the show and the ensuing uproar by
1-13 thousands of fans who were regular users of Light Crust Flour
1-14 quickly ensured the band's triumphant return to the airwaves; and
1-15 WHEREAS, Mr. O'Daniel became the announcer for the show and
1-16 created a network of radio stations known as the Southwest Quality
1-17 Network that would broadcast the Doughboys throughout Texas and
1-18 most of Oklahoma; and
1-19 WHEREAS, By 1937, some of the best musicians in the history
1-20 of western swing had joined the band, including Kenneth Pitts and
1-21 Clifford Gross on fiddle, Dick Reinhart on guitar, Marvin "Smokey"
1-22 Montgomery on tenor banjo, Ramon DeArman on bass, John "Knocky"
1-23 Parker on piano, and Muryel Campbell on lead guitar, with Cecil
1-24 Brower sitting in from time to time on the fiddle; and
2-1 WHEREAS, By the 1940s, the band's career had really begun to
2-2 take off, enhanced by broadcasts of their immensely popular radio
2-3 program, which was transmitted over 170 radio stations in the South
2-4 and Southwest; the advent of World War II brought an end to the
2-5 show and, though the Doughboys reorganized in 1946, the coming of
2-6 television signalled the end of the age of radio; and
2-7 WHEREAS, From the time their program first aired until they
2-8 signed off the air for the last time in 1951, the Light Crust
2-9 Doughboys and their illustrious alumni had crafted an important
2-10 chapter in the history of music both in this state and throughout
2-11 the country; today, the legend of the Doughboys continues with the
2-12 release of new recordings under the title "Yesterday and Today" and
2-13 a resurgence in the band's popularity under the leadership of the
2-14 group's talented producers, Marvin "Smokey" Montgomery, a Doughboy
2-15 since 1935, and Art Greenhaw, who joined the band in 1993 and is a
2-16 former member of the music panel of the Texas Commission of the
2-17 Arts; and
2-18 WHEREAS, The other gifted members of the Light Crust
2-19 Doughboys include Jerry Elliott on guitar and vocals, Bill Simmons
2-20 on keyboards, Johnny Strawn on violin, John Walden on violin, Jamie
2-21 Shipman on vocals, John Anderson on trumpet, Bob Krenkel on
2-22 clarinet and saxophone, and Bud Dresser on trombone and flugelhorn;
2-23 and
2-24 WHEREAS, The Light Crust Doughboys' affection and admiration
2-25 for the Lone Star State have been proudly proclaimed to listeners
2-26 worldwide through their performances of such renowned favorites as
2-27 "The Light Crust Doughboys Theme Song," "Beautiful Texas," "Yellow
3-1 Rose of Texas," and "Sure 'Nuf Texan," to name but a few; and
3-2 WHEREAS, For more than 64 years, the Light Crust Doughboys
3-3 have covered the best of American music, reflecting the sounds of
3-4 western swing, early Texas radio, the blues, Dixieland, and big
3-5 band in their performances, while promoting the proud spirit and
3-6 heritage of our state; they are indeed deserving of our highest
3-7 praise and recognition for their continuing contributions in this
3-8 regard; now, therefore, be it
3-9 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
3-10 Legislature hereby proclaim the Light Crust Doughboys as official
3-11 music ambassadors for the State of Texas and commend them for the
3-12 great pleasure they have brought to so many people over the course
3-13 of their career and for their singular achievements in the field of
3-14 music; and, be it further
3-15 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-16 prepared for the Light Crust Doughboys as an expression of high
3-17 regard by the Texas House of Representatives.