By: Hunter H.C.R. No. 220
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Music is one of the dominating art forms of Texas;
and
WHEREAS, Texas is the dominant force for this art form in the
country; and
WHEREAS, no other geographic area has ever produced the
variety of music and talent that has been produced by Texas artists;
and
WHEREAS, Texas music is acclaimed throughout the industry and
around the world for its diversity, independence, and soul; and
WHEREAS, The State of Texas currently has not acknowledged a
major entity, tourist destination, or Texas Music Hall of Fame
Museum to recognize its great music artists and preserve its
musical heritage; and
WHEREAS, The musical fabric of Texas includes such varied
threads as Country, Blues, Jazz, Gospel, Rock, Pop, and
TexMex/Tejano which have not only coexisted, but have evolved and
cross-pollinated, changing not just Texas, but the entire face of
modern popular music; and
WHEREAS, Texas produces musical trailblazers and pioneers,
ranging from Scott Joplin to Janis Joplin, from Ornette Coleman to
Willie Nelson, from Leadbelly to Erykah Badu, from Roger Miller to
Steve Miller, from Sippie Wallace to Norah Jones, from Buddy Holly
to ZZ Top, from Gene Autry to Barry White, from Barbara Mandrell to
Lee Ann Womack, from Johnny Winter to Van Cliburn and from Roy
Orbison to Don Henley and many others; and
WHEREAS, Texas artists have embraced and helped define nearly
every genre of American music, while the commanding influence of
Texas songwriters can be heard throughout contemporary music; and
WHEREAS, Texas has produced some of the best songwriters of
our time who have had a profound influence throughout musical
genres. Nothing embodies the spirit of Texas music more than its
singer-songwriter tradition. Individualism has combined with
communal pride and a vivid sense of place to produce an exquisite --
and unmistakably Texan -- storytelling style; and
WHEREAS, Texas songwriters are as artistically diverse as the
Texas weather, and as awe inspiring as a sunset over The Big Bend.
They have told us stories about lost loves--Me & Bobby McGee,
Crazy... discovered inspirations--Mr. Bojangles...and childhood
memories--Here Comes Santa Claus...Texas writers have rocked us,
rolled us, and made us cry. Texans have written the soundtracks of
our lives with massive movie-based hits like Celine Dion's My Heart
Will Go On; and
WHEREAS, Texas music was there at the birth of Rock 'n' Roll,
and played a large part in shaping the new sounds. Texans and their
music have played an integral part and far reaching role in the
evolution of popular culture in America and around the world; and
WHEREAS, A Texas Music Hall of Fame will generate economic
support and provide new revenue for the State of Texas; and
WHEREAS, The Texas Music Hall of Fame, similar to the Rock &
Roll Hall of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the
Experience Museum, will be visited by hundreds of thousands of
people annually (the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has had an economic
impact of more than $140 million since it opened, and the new
Country Music Hall of Fame is estimated to generate close to $130
million in new economic activity during the first five years of
operation); and
WHEREAS, The major cities of Texas have seen a major increase
in tourism growth in the last 10 years; and
WHEREAS, The Texas Music Hall of Fame Foundation is a
nonprofit Texas Corporation and has been issued a Federal trademark
on the Principal Register for Education & Entertainment Services
and Sound Recordings, and a logo for its name and title by the
United States Government; and
WHEREAS, The Texas Music Hall of Fame Foundation is a
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; and
WHEREAS, The Texas Music Hall of Fame has an Advisory Board of
prominent Texans in the business, academic, and entertainment
industry, and prominent individuals in the entertainment business;
and
WHEREAS, The Foundation will combine the interpretive
aspects of a historical museum and the audience-drawing qualities
of live performances and other popular attractions to celebrate and
explore the creativity and innovation of Texas artists and their
contributions to American music; and
WHEREAS, In 1997, The Texas Music Hall of Fame, Inc. was
registered with the State of Texas and received the support of the
Office of the Governor; and
WHEREAS, In 1999, advertising agency GSD&M became attached as
a conduit to sponsorship and underwriting opportunities. GSD&M
pledged their services in the development and creation of any and
all advertising, marketing, and promotional services that may
enhance the profile of the Texas Music Hall of Fame, Inc. GSD&M
created the logo for the Texas Music Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, In 1999, The Advisory Board of the Texas Music Hall
of Fame, Inc. was created and prospective candidates for the Board
of Governors were established; and
WHEREAS, In 2000, the formal plan to create concerts and
programming was launched by Texas Music Hall of Fame, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, the Board of Governors of the Texas Hall of
Fame, Inc. finalized the Foundation's Nomination and Induction
Criteria, and has put together a preliminary list of nominees for
the first group of Hall of Fame Inductees; and
WHEREAS, In 2003, the focus of the Texas Music Hall of Fame,
Inc. will be to acquire primary sponsorship and secondary financial
backing through foundation grants, and non-profit donations for
operational support. Activity will begin to collect media material
and memorabilia for the permanent collection; and
WHEREAS, The Permanent Site Selection Committee has begun
discussions with members of the Texas Legislature, the City of
Austin, the Austin and Visitors Convention Bureau, and other Texas
municipalities about the site for a permanent home of the Hall of
Fame; and
WHEREAS, It is in the interest of the State of Texas and its
citizens that a single entity with the Texas Corporate Charter and
the Trademark be designated as the Official Texas Music Hall of
Fame, Inc.; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED concurrently by the Texas House of Representatives
and the Texas Senate that Texas Music Hall of Fame, Inc. be
designated and recognized as the Official Texas Hall of Fame for the
purpose of inducting therein Texas musicians, songwriters and other
Texans who have made significant contributions to the art of music
and establishing Texas Music Hall of Fame museums and displays.