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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For nearly half a century, the music of Merle |
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Haggard has championed those familiar with the hardships of life, |
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and the evocative songs of this country music legend have made a |
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lasting mark on American music and earned him recognition as the |
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poet of the common man; and |
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WHEREAS, Merle Haggard was born in Oildale, California, in |
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1937, the son of Dust Bowl migrants from Oklahoma; the loss he felt |
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at the death of his father set him on a troubled path during his |
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youth, and he spent time in a number of juvenile detention centers |
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before ultimately being sentenced to a term in San Quentin State |
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Prison in 1957; there, he resolved to turn his life around and was |
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inspired to join the prison band after seeing Johnny Cash perform |
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for the inmates; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his release in 1960, he began performing |
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in California clubs with his band, the Strangers, helping to |
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popularize the rousing, guitar-driven "Bakersfield sound"; in |
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1966, he had his first number one hit with "I'm a Lonesome |
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Fugitive," and in the years that followed, he began using his |
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songwriting skills to acknowledge his turbulent past and to reflect |
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on the experiences of those close to him; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Haggard went on to record nearly 40 |
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chart-topping songs, including the self-penned classics "Hungry |
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Eyes," about the despair of Great Depression labor camps, "Mama |
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Tried," describing a son's guilt for being sent to prison, and "Okie |
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from Muskogee," channeling his father's Oklahoma roots for what |
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would become a patriotic anthem; and |
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WHEREAS, Whether he's singing of the thrill of love, the |
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bitterness of loss, or the day-to-day grind of the "Workin' Man |
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Blues," Mr. Haggard has enjoyed critical acclaim in addition to |
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great popular success; he has won three Grammys and numerous |
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Academy of Country Music awards, and he was inducted into the |
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Country Music Hall of Fame in 1994; moreover, his lifetime |
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achievements were lauded in 2010 with his selection as a Kennedy |
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Center Honoree; and |
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WHEREAS, Merle Haggard gives voice to the struggles, demons, |
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and dreams of everyday people, and his extraordinary gifts as a |
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writer and performer have earned him the respect of his peers and |
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the admiration of countless fans across the United States and |
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beyond; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to country music legend Merle |
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Haggard and extend to him sincere best wishes for good health, |
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continued success, and happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Haggard as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Miller of Comal |
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Otto |
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Stephenson |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 634 was adopted by the House on March |
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13, 2013, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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