R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The house of representatives is proud to honor
1-2 renowned Texas singer and songwriter Billy Joe Shaver, for his
1-3 songs have earned him a special place in the hearts of country
1-4 music lovers everywhere; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Born in Corsicana, Mr. Shaver was raised in Waco and
1-6 joined the United States Navy at the age of 17, already a budding
1-7 songwriter; after completing his military service, he married
1-8 Brenda Joyce Tindall and on June 20, 1962, they became the proud
1-9 parents of a son, John Edwin "Eddy" Shaver; and
1-10 WHEREAS, When he was 26, he lost two of the fingers on his
1-11 right hand in an accident, an event that ironically spurred his
1-12 desire to learn to play the guitar; and
1-13 WHEREAS, Determined to make it as a songwriter, he divided
1-14 his time for a number of years between Nashville and Texas and got
1-15 his first break when he was hired by Bobby Bare as a songwriter,
1-16 delivering Mr. Bare his first number one hit, "Ride Me Down Easy";
1-17 his own recording career began in 1972 when he was invited to play
1-18 at the Dripping Springs Reunion, considered by many to be the
1-19 fountainhead of the "Outlaw Movement," and his song "Willy the
1-20 Wanderin' Gypsy and Me" was heard by Tom T. Hall, who included it
1-21 on his next album in 1972; and
1-22 WHEREAS, The following year was a banner year for Mr. Shaver,
1-23 as it marked the release of his debut album Old Five and Dimers
1-24 Like Me, and the acclaimed Waylon Jennings album, Honky Tonk
2-1 Heroes, a collaborative effort on which Mr. Shaver penned 9 of the
2-2 album's 10 songs; through the years, his songs have been recorded
2-3 by a host of musical legends, including Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson,
2-4 Bob Dylan, Patty Loveless, Kris Kristofferson, Elvis Presley, and
2-5 Roy Acuff, whose rendition of "Georgia on a Fast Train" Mr. Shaver
2-6 counts as his highest professional honor; and
2-7 WHEREAS, Continuing to perform his own music as well, he went
2-8 on to record such classic albums as When I Get My Wings, Gypsy Boy,
2-9 Billy Joe Shaver, I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal . . . But I'm Gonna
2-10 Be a Diamond Someday, and Salt of the Earth; and
2-11 WHEREAS, He formed the band, Shaver, with his son and went on
2-12 to tour in the U.S., Europe, and Australia and release a number of
2-13 well-received albums, including Victory, which was named in
2-14 remembrance of his mother; and
2-15 WHEREAS, In 1996 Mr. Shaver made his acting debut in the
2-16 Robert Duvall movie, The Apostle, in a role he didn't consider
2-17 "much of a stretch," and he once again demonstrated his remarkable
2-18 ability to relate life's joys and sorrows in a way that strikes a
2-19 chord with people and that has earned him a reputation as one of
2-20 the greatest songwriters of his day; now, therefore, be it
2-21 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-22 Legislature hereby commend Billy Joe Shaver for his lifetime of
2-23 musical accomplishments and extend to him sincere best wishes for
2-24 continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an
2-25 official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Shaver as an
2-26 expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
Wilson
Laney Goodman Merritt
Alexander Goolsby Miller
Allen Gray Moreno of Harris
Averitt Green Moreno of El Paso
Bailey Grusendorf Morrison
Berman Gutierrez Mowery
Bonnen Haggerty Naishtat
Bosse Hamric Najera
Brimer Hardcastle Nixon
Brown of Kaufman Hartnett Noriega
Brown of Brazos Hawley Oliveira
Burnam Heflin Olivo
Callegari Hilbert Pickett
Capelo Hilderbran Pitts
Carter Hill Puente
Chavez Hinojosa Ramsay
Chisum Hochberg Rangel
Christian Hodge Raymond
Clark Homer Reyna of Bexar
Coleman Hope Reyna of Dallas
Cook Hopson Ritter
Corte Howard Sadler
Counts Hunter Salinas
Crabb Hupp Seaman
Craddick Isett Shields
Crownover Janek Smith
Danburg Jones of Lubbock Smithee
Davis of Harris Jones of Bexar Solis
Davis of Dallas Jones of Dallas Solomons
Delisi Junell Swinford
Denny Keel Talton
Deshotel Keffer Telford
Driver King of Parker Thompson
Dukes King of Uvalde Tillery
Dunnam Kitchen Truitt
Dutton Kolkhorst Turner of Coleman
Edwards Krusee Turner of Harris
Ehrhardt Kuempel Uher
Eiland Lewis of Tarrant Uresti
Elkins Lewis of Orange Villarreal
Ellis Longoria Walker
Farabee Luna West
Farrar McCall Williams
Flores McClendon Wilson
Gallego McReynolds Wise
Garcia Madden Wohlgemuth
George Marchant Wolens
Geren Martinez Fischer Woolley
Giddings Maxey Yarbrough
Glaze Menendez Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 227 was adopted by the House on
February 7, 2001, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House