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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 555
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WHEREAS, For nearly half a century, progressive country |
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icon Gary P. Nunn has been a standard-bearer for Texas music; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, in 1945, Mr. Nunn |
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moved to Brownfield with his family in the sixth grade and soon |
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joined a garage band; later, while studying pharmacy at The |
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University of Texas at Austin, he played keyboards in a local |
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supergroup, the Lavender Hill Express; he became one of the |
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progenitors of Austin's "cosmic cowboy" movement, playing bass, |
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keyboards, and guitar with Willie Nelson, Michael Martin |
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Murphey, and others; as a key member of Jerry Jeff Walker's Lost |
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Gonzo Band, he recorded six albums in four years and contributed |
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the hit "London Homesick Blues," an ode to Texas that became a |
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progressive country anthem and served for nearly three decades as |
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the theme song for the PBS show Austin City Limits; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Nunn and the Gonzos released three critically |
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acclaimed albums on their own, and in 1980, he launched his solo |
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career; a trailblazer for Austin's independent music scene, he |
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established his own label and publishing company, and he and his |
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wife, Ruth, managed his career as he toured Europe and appeared on |
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Austin City Limits, Nashville Now, and other television programs; |
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his large catalogue includes "What I Like About Texas," which |
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became the inspiration for a Texas Travel Industry Association |
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campaign, and over the years, many artists have recorded his songs; |
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Rosanne Cash climbed the country singles chart with "Couldn't Do |
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Nothing Right," while Willie Nelson scored a No. 2 hit with "Last |
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Thing I Needed, First Thing This Morning," which resurfaced on the |
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2018 Grammy Album of the Year by Chris Stapleton; that same year, |
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Mr. Nunn showcased state pride on Friends for Life, a collection of |
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his duets with a cavalcade of stars, including Lyle Lovett and |
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Robert Earl Keen; and |
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WHEREAS, Inducted into the Texas Hall of Fame in 2004, |
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Mr. Nunn is also a member of the West Texas Walk of Fame; he was |
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named Ambassador of Texas Music by Governor Rick Perry, and among |
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numerous accolades, he received the Country Music Association of |
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Texas Living Legend Award; dubbed "a Texas institution" by the |
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authoritative All Music Guide, he holds a special place in the |
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state's musical firmament and in the hearts of countless fans |
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around the world; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
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Legislature, hereby honor Gary P. Nunn for his outstanding |
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contributions to music and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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Mr. Nunn as an expression of high regard by the Texas Senate. |
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Buckingham |
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| Bettencourt |
Hughes |
Powell |
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| Birdwell |
Johnson |
Rodríguez |
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| Campbell |
Kolkhorst |
Schwertner |
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| Hinojosa |
Paxton |
Zaffirini |
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Patrick, President of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on April 8, 2019. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |