1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 514

 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride in

 1-4     recognizing Wesley Curley "W. C." Clark and in welcoming this

 1-5     Austin Blues Legend back to the stage; and

 1-6           WHEREAS, A highly popular Austin Blues singer and guitar

 1-7     player, W. C. Clark is returning to the Top of the Marc on Friday,

 1-8     April 18, 1997, after having recovered from an automobile accident

 1-9     three months ago; he will resume playing his Top of the Marc gig

1-10     every Tuesday night beginning April 22; and

1-11           WHEREAS, Possessing a wealth of talent, W. C. Clark has been

1-12     compared to such greats as Sam Cooke, Al Green, B. B. King, and

1-13     Nat King Cole; affectionately called "The Godfather of Austin

1-14     Blues," W. C. Clark was born and raised in Austin and was inspired

1-15     by his guitar-playing father and his mother and grandmother, who

1-16     sang in the church choir; and

1-17           WHEREAS, W. C. Clark established himself in the musical world

1-18     in Texas during the 1950s and 1960s when the East Austin club scene

1-19     began to prosper; he played at the popular Charlie's Playhouse for

1-20     six years and then took to the road with the Joe Tex Band; and

1-21           WHEREAS, In the early 1970s, W. C. Clark formed the band

1-22     Southern Feeling with singer Angela Strehli and guitarist/pianist

1-23     Denny Freeman and began focusing on his songwriting talents; he

 2-1     later joined Stevie Ray Vaughan, Mike Kindred, Freddie Pharoah, and

 2-2     Lou Ann Barton in the Triple Threat Revue, during which time he

 2-3     cowrote "Cold Shot," one of Mr. Vaughan's biggest hits; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, In the late 1970s, W. C. Clark formed the

 2-5     W. C. Clark Blues Revue, and the band became a fixture at

 2-6     Austin's best-known blues club, Antone's, and played with soul

 2-7     greats such as B. B. King, James Brown, and Bobby "Blue" Bland; and

 2-8           WHEREAS, Mr. Clark's first recording was "Something for

 2-9     Everybody," and his album, "Heart of Gold," which he signed with

2-10     Black Top Records in 1994, gained him national recognition and

2-11     acclaim; and

2-12           WHEREAS, W. C. Clark's masterful second album, "Texas Soul,"

2-13     is a delicate balance between soul, blues, and rhythm and blues;

2-14     the album features such songs as "I Only Have Love For You," "I

2-15     Want To Keep You," and "Reminiscing," as well as Johnny Taylor's

2-16     classic "That's Where It's At"; the album reflects on the emotional

2-17     consequences of love, and W. C. Clark delivers his songs with

2-18     eloquence and graceful guitar lines; and

2-19           WHEREAS, A living legend in the Austin Blues scene,

2-20     W. C. Clark is beloved by music enthusiasts across the country,

2-21     and this distinguished gentleman deserves accolades for his unique

2-22     contributions to the Austin community and to the world of blues

2-23     music; now, therefore, be it

2-24           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

2-25     75th Legislature, hereby commend Wesley Curley "W. C." Clark on

 3-1     his outstanding talent and career and extend a warm and joyous

 3-2     welcome to him on his return to the stage; and, be it further

 3-3           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for

 3-4     W. C. Clark as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.

 3-5                                                              Barrientos

 3-6                                  ______________________________________

 3-7                                          President of the Senate

 3-8                                       I hereby certify that the above

 3-9                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

3-10                                  on April 16, 1997.

3-11                                  ______________________________________

3-12                                          Secretary of the Senate

3-13                                  ______________________________________

3-14                                           Member, Texas Senate