By Davis of Dallas                                     H.R. No. 129
         76R5568 WMS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Willie Neal "The Country Boy" Johnson has been
 1-2     selected as African American Achiever for January 1999 by Trinity
 1-3     Mother Frances Health Systems and the Ebony News Journal, and this
 1-4     prestigious honor is indeed well deserved; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, A native of Tyler, Texas, Mr. Johnson was the eldest
 1-6     of six children in the household, and from an early age his parents
 1-7     taught their family to embrace the joy of music; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson was in his teens when the Reverend C. W.
 1-9     Jackson recognized his budding talent and persuaded him to join the
1-10     Five Ways of Joy Gospel Singers; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Several years later, he organized a new group
1-12     comprising singers from his hometown, and Willie Neal Johnson and
1-13     The Gospel Keynotes was born; the ensemble quickly became one of
1-14     the area's most renowned musical acts and in 1964 The Gospel
1-15     Keynotes signed a contract with Nashboro Records; and
1-16           WHEREAS, The group saw several members arrive and depart
1-17     through the years, and for a time its name was changed to Willie
1-18     Neal Johnson and the New Keynotes, but at all times Mr. Johnson
1-19     maintained the group's magical musical presence; and
1-20           WHEREAS, Among the many accolades earned by Mr. Johnson as a
1-21     member of The Gospel Keynotes are three Stellar Awards, the
1-22     inaugural James Cleveland Excellence Award, a Dove Award for "Ride
1-23     the Ship of Zion," a 1980 Grammy nomination for "Ain't No Stoppin'
1-24     Us Now," and gold record status for their 1974 hit song "Jesus
 2-1     You've Been Good to Me"; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, Throughout the course of his illustrious career,
 2-3     Willie Neal Johnson has set standards of artistic excellence to
 2-4     which all musicians can aspire, and it is indeed appropriate that
 2-5     he be recognized in light of his most recent honor; now, therefore,
 2-6     be it
 2-7           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
 2-8     Legislature hereby congratulate Willie Neal "The Country Boy"
 2-9     Johnson on being named African American Achiever of the Month for
2-10     January 1999 and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued
2-11     success; and, be it further
2-12           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-13     prepared for Mr. Johnson as an expression of high regard by the
2-14     Texas House of Representatives.