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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Today the Texas House of Representatives honors the |
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many accomplishments and generous contributions of a great Texan |
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and a legendary musician and composer, Joe Sample; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Houston on February 1, 1939, Joseph Leslie |
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Sample was playing the piano at the age of five; he was already |
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soaking in all the various musical influences of Houston's Fifth |
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Ward, from gospel to rock and roll, from Latin to soul to zydeco, |
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and from jazz and blues to classical music; and |
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WHEREAS, With his boyhood friends Wayne Henderson, Wilton |
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Felder, and Stix Hooper, Joe Sample formed a group in high school |
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called the Swingsters; they continued to play together while |
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attending Texas Southern University, then moved to Los Angeles in |
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1960; renaming the group the Jazz Crusaders, they gained a national |
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reputation playing jazz inflected by what they had heard growing up |
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on the streets of Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, Changing their name again in 1971, the musicians |
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became simply the Crusaders, and their fusion of jazz, soul, and |
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rhythm and blues became one of the signature sounds of American |
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popular music; working with such performers as Marvin Gaye, Joni |
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Mitchell, and Steely Dan, they recorded a series of iconic albums, |
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including The Second Crusade, Unsung Heroes, Southern Comfort, |
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Chain Reaction, and Those Southern Knights, culminating in 1979 |
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with their international hit "Street Life"; and |
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WHEREAS, Joe Sample's first solo album, Rainbow Seeker, |
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released in 1978, was a masterpiece of lyricism and introspection; |
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his catalog of songs from "Street Life" to "When Your Life Was Low" |
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to "Dear Mama" has been covered by a multitude of artists; Nicole |
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Kidman sang his hit "Someday I'll Fly Away" in the film Moulin |
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Rouge, and his recordings have been sampled by contemporary artists |
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including Tupac, Queen Latifah, Ice Cube, Destiny's Child, and Lil' |
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Bow Wow; a sought-after keyboardist, he has performed throughout |
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the years with such artists as Eric Clapton, B. B. King, Tina |
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Turner, Joan Baez, the Beach Boys, George Benson, and Gladys |
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Knight; and |
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WHEREAS, He continues to write and perform to great acclaim; |
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his recent recordings include the Crusaders reunion Rural Renewal; |
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his collaboration with vocalist Randy Crawford, entitled Feeling |
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Good; and his 2002 release, The Pecan Tree, which highlights the |
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music and culture of southeast Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2005, he returned to his hometown of Houston and |
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established the Joe Sample Youth Organization, through which he |
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raises money for inner-city schools, including his old elementary |
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school, Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School, the oldest |
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historically African American elementary school in Houston; |
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through a series of concerts, Mr. Sample has raised over $100,000 |
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for the schools; his third annual fund-raising concert is scheduled |
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for September of this year; and |
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WHEREAS, Joe Sample's contributions to the musical heritage |
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of the Lone Star State are immeasurable, and he remains one of |
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America's most influential performers and composers; the joy and |
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excitement he has brought generations of fans are matched only by |
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his selfless and committed service to his community, and his |
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enormous talent is matched only by his generous heart; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Joe Sample for the gift of his music and |
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for his devotion to his community and extend to him very best wishes |
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for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Sample as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |