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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Over the course of a long and accomplished career, |
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Juan "Johnny" Canales of Corpus Christi has played an important |
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role in popularizing Tejano music through his influential work as a |
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television and radio host, and his contributions are deeply |
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appreciated by legions of fans; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Canales grew up in Robstown, and his |
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introduction to music and hard work came at an early age; he helped |
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his family in the cotton fields by day and then played guitar and |
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sang at night as part of a duo with his father; and |
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WHEREAS, After serving his nation as a member of the U.S. Army |
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in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mr. Canales returned home and |
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started a band, Johnny Canales y Su Orquesta; the group specialized |
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in providing entertainment for migrant workers throughout the |
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nation, and the band's recording "El Corrido de Augustine Ramirez" |
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became a hit on Tejano stations in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, His fame as a musician helped Mr. Canales land a job |
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as a disc jockey at Radio Jalapeno in Corpus Christi, and he quickly |
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became a popular on-air personality, famous for his catchphrase, |
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"You got it! Take it away!"; he made the jump to television in the |
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early 1980s with El Show de Johnny Canales, a variety program that |
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was initially syndicated to stations in Texas and later broadcast |
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in the United States by Univision and in 23 other countries by |
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Televisa; and |
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WHEREAS, Living up to its slogan "Donde nacen las estrellas" |
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("Where stars are born"), El Show de Johnny Canales hosted some of |
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the earliest TV performances of the Tejano superstar Selena, and |
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the show was also instrumental in launching such popular performers |
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as Los Huracanes del Norte, Conjunto Primavera, Los Temerarios, |
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Bronco, Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos del Norte, and Bobby Pulido, among |
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many others; after the tragic death of Selena in 1995, Mr. Canales |
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broadcast a television special in her memory, "Recordando Selena," |
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which garnered huge ratings and helped demonstrate the growing |
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power and sweep of the Latino audience; a measure of his popularity |
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in international markets came in 2001, when a taping of his show in |
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Monterrey, Mexico, drew 135,000 fans; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Mr. Canales has used his fame |
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and influence to support causes he believes in; he has been active |
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in civic and voter-education initiatives, and he has assisted such |
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organizations as the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational |
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Fund, Operation Supply Our Students, the League of United Latin |
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American Citizens, the American G.I. Forum, and the Southwest Voter |
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Registration Education Project; and |
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WHEREAS, This beloved entertainer's show business |
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achievements and his efforts to benefit others have earned him |
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hundreds of official honors, including recognition from the |
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Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and a Lifetime Achievement |
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Award from the Tejano Music Awards; ten video performances from The |
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Johnny Canales Show are part of the permanent collection of the UCLA |
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Chicano Studies Research Center and have previously been exhibited |
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at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his talent and dedication to showcasing |
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gifted entertainers, Johnny Canales has brought enjoyment to |
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countless people and helped further the influence of Latino music |
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and culture in Texas, across the nation, and around the world; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Juan "Johnny" Canales on his |
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lasting success in the entertainment industry and honor him for his |
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civic contributions; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Canales as an expression of high regard and best |
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wishes by the Texas House of Representatives. |