| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
|
|
death of pianist and composer Giorgio Joseph Primo of Irving on |
|
|
March 4, 2011, at the age of 89; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, George Primo was born on February 2, 1922, in |
|
|
Detroit, Michigan, to Dominic and Angeline Casale Primo; he was one |
|
|
of six musically talented children, each of whom played a different |
|
|
instrument, and in 1939, he wrote the graduation song for his class |
|
|
at MacKenzie High School; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Turning to music full-time, Mr. Primo began his |
|
|
career as a pianist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and he went |
|
|
on to serve as staff pianist at WXYZ radio in Detroit from 1940 to |
|
|
1946, accompanying such popular singers as Dee Parker and Betty |
|
|
Clooney; in 1947 and 1948, he scored two ballets for the Detroit |
|
|
Civic Light Opera Company, Mother Goose Fantasy and Fate Ballet; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Primo later toured the country as the featured |
|
|
pianist with Henry Bussey and his orchestra and eventually settled |
|
|
in Las Vegas, where he performed in musical revues, composed |
|
|
jingles for television and radio commercials, and accompanied many |
|
|
entertainers; in 1972, he was commissioned to compose and perform a |
|
|
song for the inauguration of President Richard Nixon, and during |
|
|
the 1977-1978 television season, he had a recurring role on the hit |
|
|
private-eye series Vegas; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Hired in 1982 as the house pianist of what is now the |
|
|
Omni Mandalay Hotel, Mr. Primo settled in Irving and soon became a |
|
|
popular local performer, often lending his talents to charitable |
|
|
and civic events; well into his 80s, he began composing religious |
|
|
music, including "Lullaby for Baby Jesus" and an interpretation of |
|
|
the Lord's Prayer; he attended St. Michael's Catholic Church in |
|
|
Bedford, where he sang with the choir; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, This dynamic performer was inducted as an honorary |
|
|
member of the Irving Rotary Club in 2004, serving as the club's |
|
|
"composer in residence," and he was nominated as a Texas State |
|
|
Musician in 2006; the following year, he received the City of |
|
|
Irving's High Spirited Citizen Award; moreover, he was a lifetime |
|
|
member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of |
|
|
Television and Radio Artists; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A skilled and engaging performer, George Primo |
|
|
delighted audiences in the Lone Star State and beyond, and he leaves |
|
|
behind a record of achievement that will not soon be forgotten; now, |
|
|
therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Giorgio Joseph Primo |
|
|
and extend sincere condolences to his son, Gregg County |
|
|
Commissioner Darryl Primo, and to his other relatives and many |
|
|
friends; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|
|
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of George |
|
|
Primo. |
| |
|
|
Harper-Brown |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 1444 was unanimously adopted by a |
|
|
rising vote of the House on May 12, 2011. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |