H.R. No. 38

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Friends and fans of Tejano legend Laura Canales were

deeply saddened by her untimely passing on April 16, 2005, at the

age of 50; and

WHEREAS, Born on August 19, 1954, in Kingsville, Ms. Canales

was inspired to pursue a career in music by her choral director at

H. M. King High School; although few women performed in the Tejano

arena at the time, she made her recording debut with Los Unicos in

1973, the same year of her high school graduation; she later

performed with El Conjunto Bernal, Snowball & Company, and Encanto,

and among her many hits were Eternamente, O Gran Dios, Cinco Canas

Mas, and Si Vivi Contigo; an album released in 1977 ranked 10th on

Billboard's "Hot Latin" chart, and her 1990 record, No Regrets,

remained on the charts for 13 weeks; and

WHEREAS, Much of this talented Texan's popularity derived

from her rich and supple singing voice; known for delivering a

soulful punch to her polkas, rancheras, and ballads, she won

numerous Tejano Music Awards for Best Female Vocalist and Best

Female Entertainer in the 1980s, and in 1983 Governor Mark White

presented her with a "Yellow Rose of Texas" award; recognized for

her loyalty to her roots while many other Tejano artists crossed

over to English-language pop, she was included in the first class of

inductees in the Tejano Roots Hall of Fame in 2000; and

WHEREAS, Fun-loving and easygoing, Ms. Canales nevertheless

was determined to continue her education and some 20 years after her

high school graduation, she enrolled in courses at Texas A&M

University--Kingsville; after earning her undergraduate degree in

clinical psychology, she had begun working on her master's degree

when she became ill; and

WHEREAS, Known as "La Reina de la Onda Tejana," or "the Queen

of the Tejano Wave," Laura Canales is credited with breaking gender

barriers and opening doors for such artists as Selena, Jennifer

Pena, and Shelly Lares; this gifted and beloved daughter of South

Texas is truly missed, and the achievements of the First Lady of

Tejano ensure that she will never be forgotten; now, therefore, be

it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas

Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Laura Canales on April

16, 2011, the sixth anniversary of her death.

Alonzo

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 38 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on February 24, 2011.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House