83R12904 JGH-D

By: Herrero H.R. No. 1494

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Over the course of a long and accomplished career, Juan "Johnny" Canales of Corpus Christi has played an important role in popularizing Tejano music through his influential work as a television and radio host, and his contributions are deeply appreciated by legions of fans; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Canales grew up in Robstown, and his introduction to music and hard work came at an early age; he helped his family in the cotton fields by day and then played guitar and sang at night as part of a duo with his father; and

WHEREAS, After serving his nation as a member of the U.S. Army in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mr. Canales returned home and started a band, Johnny Canales y Su Orquesta; the group specialized in providing entertainment for migrant workers throughout the nation, and the band's recording "El Corrido de Augustine Ramirez" became a hit on Tejano stations in Texas; and

WHEREAS, His fame as a musician helped Mr. Canales land a job as a disc jockey at Radio Jalapeno in Corpus Christi, and he quickly became a popular on-air personality, famous for his catchphrase, "You got it! Take it away!"; he made the jump to television in the early 1980s with El Show de Johnny Canales, a variety program that was initially syndicated to stations in Texas and later broadcast in the United States by Univision and in 23 other countries by Televisa; and

WHEREAS, Living up to its slogan "Donde nacen las estrellas" ("Where stars are born"), El Show de Johnny Canales hosted some of the earliest TV performances of the Tejano superstar Selena, and the show was also instrumental in launching such popular performers as Los Huracanes del Norte, Conjunto Primavera, Los Temerarios, Bronco, Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos del Norte, and Bobby Pulido, among many others; after the tragic death of Selena in 1995, Mr. Canales broadcast a television special in her memory, "Recordando Selena," which garnered huge ratings and helped demonstrate the growing power and sweep of the Latino audience; a measure of his popularity in international markets came in 2001, when a taping of his show in Monterrey, Mexico, drew 135,000 fans; and

WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Mr. Canales has used his fame and influence to support causes he believes in; he has been active in civic and voter-education initiatives, and he has assisted such organizations as the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Operation Supply Our Students, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the American G.I. Forum, and the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project; and

WHEREAS, This beloved entertainer's show business achievements and his efforts to benefit others have earned him hundreds of official honors, including recognition from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tejano Music Awards; ten video performances from The Johnny Canales Show are part of the permanent collection of the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center and have previously been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, Through his talent and dedication to showcasing gifted entertainers, Johnny Canales has brought enjoyment to countless people and helped further the influence of Latino music and culture in Texas, across the nation, and around the world; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Juan "Johnny" Canales on his lasting success in the entertainment industry and honor him for his civic contributions; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Canales as an expression of high regard and best wishes by the Texas House of Representatives.