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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Oak Ridge Boys are launching their 40th |
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anniversary tour in Galveston on January 19 and 20, 2013, and this |
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occasion provides an ideal opportunity to honor one of the |
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longest-running groups in country music; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded in Tennessee in the mid-1940s as the Oak |
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Ridge Quartet, the vocal ensemble became one of the top draws on the |
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national gospel circuit; its membership changed numerous times in |
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the early years, and the group adopted the name the Oak Ridge Boys |
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in 1961; the classic, present-day lineup was completed in 1973 when |
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Joe Bonsall joined Richard Sterban, Duane Allen, and William Lee |
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Golden; and |
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WHEREAS, This talented foursome had their first major success |
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on the country charts in 1977, when they scored a pair of top five |
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songs, "Y'all Come Back Saloon" and "You're the One"; the following |
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year, they had their first number one record with "I'll Be True to |
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You," and they had additional hits with "Cryin' Again" and "Come on |
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In"; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1981, the Oak Ridge Boys made the leap to the pop |
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charts with their double-platinum single "Elvira," and that smash |
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hit helped make the album Fancy Free the best-selling country |
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release in the nation; they followed with a string of number one |
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songs, including "American Made," "Little Things," and "Make My |
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Life with You," and during the 1990s, they hosted a popular variety |
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show on The Nashville Network; through the years, the band has |
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continued to perform, record, and add to its sizeable collection of |
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accolades; the Oak Ridge Boys have earned five Grammy Awards, eight |
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Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, and four Country Music |
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Association Awards, as well as numerous other honors, and they are |
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members of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the past four decades, Richard Sterban, Duane |
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Allen, William Lee Golden, and Joe Bonsall have thrilled |
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innumerable fans with their heartfelt songs and soaring harmonies, |
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and it is indeed a pleasure to welcome them back to Texas as they |
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celebrate this important career milestone; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Oak Ridge Boys on the occasion of their |
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40th anniversary tour and extend to the band members sincere best |
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wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the group as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |