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79R10263 MAM-D

By:  Crownover                                                    H.R. No. 814



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, In February 2005, the members of Brave Combo, a 
Denton-based New Wave polka band, received their second Grammy 
Award for their 25th anniversary album, Let's Kiss, and this 
prestigious accolade provides a fitting time to take special note 
of the eclectic, storied history of this unique musical outfit; and
	WHEREAS, America's premier contemporary polka band was born 
in Denton in 1979, when bandleader Carl Finch and the original 
lineup released their first record on the band's own Four Dot 
Records; along with Finch, multi-instrumentalist Jeffrey Barnes 
and bassist-singer Cenobio Hernandez have contributed to the band's 
unclassifiable sound for most of the group's existence; the current 
lineup also includes trumpet and flugelhorn player Danny O'Brien 
and percussionist Alan Emert; and
	WHEREAS, Described as everything from a world music act to a 
hot jazz quintet, from a rollicking rock and roll band to a Tex-Mex 
conjunto group, Brave Combo comes from vast and varied influences; 
they like to mix and match styles such as klezmer, surf rock, polka, 
zydeco, acid rock, and classical, and this experimentation has won 
them critical accolades and legions of devoted fans; and
	WHEREAS, One such fan is Matt Groening, the creator of the 
"Simpsons," who has invited the band to appear on the show's 
Oktoberfest episode and to play the 200th episode party; the 
group's dedication to musicianship and belief that music should be 
fun has earned them a spot in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and 
the main attraction billings at weddings, festivals, clubs, 
colleges, and state fairs; and
	WHEREAS, In addition to their recent Grammy win, Brave Combo 
has been awarded honors three years in a row from the critics of the 
respected jazz magazine, Downbeat; the band received its first 
Grammy Award in 2000 for Polkasonic, an album released in 1999; and
	WHEREAS, The longevity and perseverance of Brave Combo speaks 
to the talent of its members, who have experimented with many forms 
without ever sacrificing skill and musicianship; they deserve wide 
recognition for their sincerity and integrity, which has allowed 
them to dispense with the pressures of conformity and pursue their 
own sound for 25 productive years; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby congratulate the members of Brave Combo on 
receiving their second Grammy Award and extend to them sincere best 
wishes for continued success and accomplishment; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for the band as an expression of high regard by the Texas 
House of Representatives.