By:  Barrientos                                        S.R. No. 657
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2        WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
    1-3  welcome Albertina Walker, the 1995 Grammy Award Winner, who will
    1-4  be performing with the Saint James Baptist Church Choir for its
    1-5  37th Annual Choir Anniversary on April 16, 1995; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, A living legend, Albertina Walker is an acknowledged
    1-7  star in the gospel music world; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, Her love for music began at an early age; during her
    1-9  formative years growing up in Chicago, she discovered that serving
   1-10  the Lord through song would be her primary mission in life; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, Early in her professional singing career, Albertina
   1-12  performed with the great gospel performers such as Mahalia Jackson
   1-13  and the renowned Robert Anderson Singers; she was offered a record
   1-14  contract with three other women, and this group evolved into the
   1-15  original Caravans; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, The Caravans were one of the first female gospel
   1-17  quartets and they had a dazzling style; under Albertina's
   1-18  leadership, other singers such as Shirley Caesar, Cassietta George,
   1-19  and Inez Andrews were discovered and nurtured; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, Albertina married and directed her energies toward
   1-21  being a homemaker; her unique style and flair were missed on the
   1-22  gospel scene, and after receiving several overtures, she returned
   1-23  to the gospel music world; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, She has made more than 60 albums which include
    2-2  classics such as "The Best Is Yet to Come," "Please Be Patient
    2-3  with Me," and "You Believed in Me"; her records and performances
    2-4  were a big hit with fans and the gospel music industry; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, Throughout her career, she has earned seven
    2-6  Grammy Award nominations, three Gospel Music Workshop of America
    2-7  Excellence Awards, including being inducted into the Gospel Music
    2-8  Workshop of America Hall of Fame in 1991, and a listing in Who's
    2-9  Who in Black America; and
   2-10        WHEREAS, Her latest release is her life testimony entitled
   2-11  "He Keeps on Blessing Me"; this is a brilliant combination of
   2-12  gospel favorites from "Yes God Is Real" and "Nobody But You Lord,"
   2-13  to tributes to the father of gospel music, Thomas Dorsey, that
   2-14  include "Jesus Is The Light" and "Angels Keep Watching Over Me";
   2-15  and
   2-16        WHEREAS, The combination of this acclaimed gospel singer and
   2-17  the renowned Saint James Baptist Church Choir is sure to be an
   2-18  entertainment that will be beautiful and memorable; now, therefore,
   2-19  be it
   2-20        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
   2-21  74th Legislature, hereby commend and applaud Albertina Walker
   2-22  and the Saint James Baptist Church Choir on the glorious occasion
   2-23  of its 37th Annual Choir Anniversary; and, be it further
   2-24        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for her
   2-25  as an expression of the highest esteem of the Texas Senate.
    3-1                               ______________________________________
    3-2                                       President of the Senate
    3-3                                    I hereby certify that the above
    3-4                               Resolution was adopted by the Senate
    3-5                               on April 10, 1995.
    3-6                               ______________________________________
    3-7                                       Secretary of the Senate
    3-8                               ______________________________________
    3-9                                        Member, Texas Senate