HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, Texas guitarist and singer Bill Boyd has been

 1-2     posthumously inducted into the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame,

 1-3     and this historic occasion is truly worthy of special praise and

 1-4     recognition at this time; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, Born September 29, 1910, in Fannin County, Mr. Boyd

 1-6     first made his musical name on radio station KFPM in nearby

 1-7     Greenville, and after moving with his family to Dallas in 1926, he

 1-8     continued to pursue his dream of being a professional entertainer;

 1-9     and

1-10           WHEREAS, In 1932, Mr. Boyd formed the first incarnation of

1-11     the Cowboy Ramblers with his brother, Jim Boyd, and they quickly

1-12     became known throughout the region for their mastery of the

1-13     distinctive American musical form known as western swing; a lively

1-14     blend of such diverse elements as boogie-woogie, jazz, and country

1-15     music, western swing was the dance music of choice for Texans

1-16     across the state, and Bill Boyd and his Cowboy Ramblers regaled

1-17     their loyal listeners with such wonderful recordings as "New Steel

1-18     Guitar Rag," "Over the Waves Waltz," "Lone Star Rag," and "Under

1-19     the Double Eagle"; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Versatile and talented performers, the Cowboy

1-21     Ramblers lent their talents to a number of Hollywood westerns,

1-22     including "Rolling Down the Great Divide," "Tumbleweed Trail," and

1-23     "Prairie Pals," and Mr. Boyd's outstanding guitar playing was also

1-24     featured on the recordings of other notable musicians, including

 2-1     the legendary Jimmie Rodgers; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, In pioneering western swing, Bill Boyd helped to

 2-3     shape an essential element of Texas culture and history, and the

 2-4     memorable musical legacy left by the Cowboy Ramblers will continue

 2-5     to delight aficionados across the Lone Star State and around the

 2-6     world for many years to come; now, therefore, be it

 2-7           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

 2-8     hereby honor the late Bill Boyd on his induction into the Texas

 2-9     Western Swing Hall of Fame.

                                                                   Patterson

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 261 was adopted by the House on May

         23, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 261 was adopted by the Senate on

         May 27, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor