1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 745

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

 1-4     recognizing the Men of Music and in welcoming each member of the

 1-5     group to the State Capitol on May 15, 1997; and

 1-6           WHEREAS, The newest group on the Southern Gospel circuit, the

 1-7     Men of Music is a dynamic ensemble that brings decades of music and

 1-8     ministerial experience together; the highly talented members of Men

 1-9     of Music are Cleon Yates, Buddy Burton, Bobby Clark, Jim Wesson, and

1-10     Mike Bullock; and

1-11           WHEREAS, The Men of Music offers audiences a fresh treatment

1-12     of traditional styles and includes voices that have been part of

1-13     some of the greatest groups in Southern Gospel history; full of

1-14     energy and eager to share their message, the members of the Men of

1-15     Music sing Texas patriotic songs and Southern Gospel music in its

1-16     purest form; and

1-17           WHEREAS, This unique group began with a desire in the heart

1-18     of successful businessman Cleon Yates, a leader in corporate

1-19     America, whose first passion had been Gospel singing; a longtime

1-20     Austin resident, Mr. Yates began his career as a staff member of

1-21     the Department of Physics at The University of Texas; he then

1-22     entered the private sector by developing quartz semiconductor

1-23     products for use in the microchip industry, and he soon became a

 2-1     major supplier to corporations around the world; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, After devoting much of his life to honing engineering

 2-3     skills and to the microchip industry, this successful entrepreneur

 2-4     decided to dedicate more of his time to Gospel singing; Cleon Yates

 2-5     began searching for a group, and fortunately he met up with

 2-6     Buddy Burton, Bobby Clark, and Jim Wesson at Charlie Waller's

 2-7     Grand Ole Gospel Reunion in Greenville, South Carolina; the Men of

 2-8     Music was established shortly thereafter and was later joined by the

 2-9     talented Mike Bullock, whose bass voice was the perfect complement

2-10     to the group; each of these men is tremendously gifted and brings a

2-11     wealth of experience to the group; and

2-12           WHEREAS, An accomplished singer and pianist and one of the

2-13     greatest stage managers in Southern Gospel, Buddy Burton brings

2-14     to Men of Music a rich heritage; he has performed with some of the

2-15     pioneering groups of Southern Gospel, including the legendary

2-16     Hovie Lister and the Statesmen and the Smitty Gatlin Trio; he is

2-17     also an ordained minister who has served as pastor of numerous

2-18     congregations across the country; and

2-19           WHEREAS, Bobby Clark holds a doctorate in theology and has

2-20     founded centers of worship and education; he has studied under

2-21     a renowned performer at New York City's Metropolitan Opera, and

2-22     his crystal tenor voice has been featured in such Gospel quartets

2-23     as the Cathedrals, Oak Ridge Quartet, and Dixie Echoes; he has

2-24     provided background vocals for Marty Robbins, Jimmy Dean, and

2-25     Hank Snow; and

 3-1           WHEREAS, Jim Wesson was a member of the Chuck Wagon Gang,

 3-2     a highly successful group that performed in such places as

 3-3     Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl; Jim Wesson is the first

 3-4     artist to release a solo recording project in the Southern Gospel

 3-5     industry; he also joined forces with his brother to create an album

 3-6     still considered ahead of its time in the world of music; and

 3-7           WHEREAS, Alabama native Mike Bullock is a veteran singer whose

 3-8     extensive experience includes years of singing with the well-known

 3-9     Dixie Echoes; Mike Bullock was unanimously chosen by the members of

3-10     the Men of Music, and his beautiful deep bass voice is considered a

3-11     major asset to the group; now, therefore, be it

3-12           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

3-13     75th Legislature, hereby commend the members of the Men of Music

3-14     on their talent and dedication and declare them singing ambassadors

3-15     of Texas; and, be it further

3-16           RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be prepared for the

3-17     Men of Music as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.

3-18                                                               Wentworth

3-19                                  ______________________________________

3-20                                          President of the Senate

3-21                                       I hereby certify that the above

3-22                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

3-23                                  on May 15, 1997.

3-24                                  ______________________________________

3-25                                          Secretary of the Senate

3-26                                  ______________________________________

3-27                                           Member, Texas Senate