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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Country star Mickey Gilley helped ignite the "urban |
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cowboy" phenomenon in the 1980s, introducing countless Americans to |
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the joys of Texas honky-tonk music; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Natchez, Mississippi, on March 9, 1936, Mr. |
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Gilley grew up in nearby Ferriday, Louisiana; he learned to play |
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piano at an early age and got an education in rhythm and blues by |
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secretly listening at the windows of clubs; after his cousin Jerry |
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Lee Lewis found fame, he grew serious about pursuing a career in |
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music, and while working construction jobs in Houston, he began |
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performing on local stages and recorded a number of regional hits on |
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independent labels; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Gilley broke through on the national level in |
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1968 with the single "Now I Can Live Again"; his star rose even |
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higher in the 1970s, with the opening of Gilley's Club in Pasadena |
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and a phenomenal string of country smashes that included "Room Full |
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of Roses," "I Overlooked an Orchid," and "Don't the Girls All Get |
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Prettier at Closing Time"; Esquire magazine ran a prominent feature |
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on Gilley's that became the basis for the blockbuster movie Urban |
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Cowboy; Gilley appeared in the 1980 film and the soundtrack sent his |
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career into the stratosphere with a platinum single, "Stand By Me"; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, One of the most successful country artists of the |
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1980s, Mr. Gilley ruled the charts with a new, more pop-oriented |
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sound; he scored nine number one singles, among them "You Don't Know |
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Me," "Talk to Me," and "That's All That Matters"; eventually, |
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Gilley's Club ran its course, but he seized another business |
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opportunity and opened one of the first star-themed venues in |
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Branson, Missouri; the Mickey Gilley Theatre marked its 20th |
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anniversary in 2010; and |
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WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan has received many accolades |
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through the years; Mr. Gilley has won Academy of Country Music |
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Awards in numerous categories and captured the prestigious |
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Entertainer of the Year title; in 2002, he was inducted into the |
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Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame in Ferriday along with his cousins, |
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Mr. Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart; and |
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WHEREAS, An engaging performer with a staggering roster of |
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hits, Mr. Gilley continues to captivate audiences around the |
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country, and it is indeed fitting to recognize his singular place in |
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the history of Texas music; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby welcome Mickey Gilley to the State Capitol and |
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extend to him sincere best wishes 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. Gilley as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |