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78R3129 MW-D

By:  McClendon                                                    H.R. No. 92 


R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The West Side Horns have occupied a prominent place in the San Antonio music scene for decades, developing and honing a distinctive sound that is as unique as the River City itself; and WHEREAS, Emerging from San Antonio's renowned and diverse musical traditions, the West Side Horns have incorporated elements of blues, rhythm and blues, jazz, rock and roll, and other regional styles to create the powerful and passionate West Side sound; and WHEREAS, This talented group of musicians includes Rocky Morales, Louie Bustos, Spot Barnett, Al Gomez, Arturo "Sauce" Gonzalez, and Jack Barber; and WHEREAS, A saxophone player since his school days, Mr. Morales was inspired to take up the tenor sax after hearing Clifford Scott play; during the early 1960s, Mr. Morales worked with the late, great Doug Sahm in the Mar-Kays and later joined him on stages across the globe; throughout the years, he also has made music with Joe & the VIPs, Rudy & the Reno Bops, and Randy Garibay; and WHEREAS, Louie Bustos began his career playing rock and roll and rhythm and blues with Sunny & the Sunliners; Mr. Bustos, whose passion for music equals his talent, made a name for himself as a saxophone player with the legendary Little Joe as well as with the Love Machine; and WHEREAS, A late addition to the West Side Horns was San Antonio's premier band leader during the 1950s and 1960s, Spot Barnett; headquartered in the Ebony Lounge, Mr. Barnett mixed the sounds of blues, jazz, and rock and roll while playing with local favorites Ernie "Murphy" Durawa and Doug Sahm; during the 1970s, he played sax with Bobby Bland, and after a long hiatus from the music business, he returned to San Antonio in the 1990s and joined the West Side Horns; and WHEREAS, Al Gomez grew up in a family of musicians and made an early mark in music working with keyboard player "Sauce" Gonzalez in Joe Bravo's band; an arranger and first-call studio player for a wide range of artists, Mr. Gomez is an ace trumpeter who has played with the West Side Horns since the mid-1980s; and WHEREAS, The piano and organ sounds of Arturo "Sauce" Gonzalez have been influenced by Jimmy Smith, Fats Domino, and Jerry Lee Lewis; Mr. Gonzalez has played with such notable musicians as Sunny & the Sunglows, Little Joe, Joe Bravo, the Drifters, and the Coasters; during the 1970s, he divided his time between Mr. Sahm's various groups and Miss Lavelle White's Blues and Soul Situation, and he currently leads San Antonio's West Side Sound; and WHEREAS, Early in his career, Texas blues bassist Jack Barber jammed on the East Side, played with the Dell-Kings, and became the original Sir Douglas Quintet bass player; over the years, he made regular appearances in Mr. Sahm's blues projects and now regularly gigs with Ruben V; and WHEREAS, Through their dedication, hard work, and passion, these talented musicians have achieved excellence in their craft, and the contributions they have made to Texas blues music truly merit special recognition; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas Legislature hereby honor the West Side Horns and extend to its members sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the West Side Horns as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.