By Wilson                                              H.R. No. 227
         77R5886 JKB-D                           
                                 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
2-25           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-26     prepared for Mr. Shaver as an expression of high regard by the
2-27     Texas House of Representatives.