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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family and friends were deeply saddened by the |
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passing of admired vocalist Shirley Baines of Houston on January |
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15, 2021, at the age of 69; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Houston on March 9, 1951, Shirley Baines |
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grew up in the historic Fifth Ward and graduated from Phillis |
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Wheatley High School; she went on to earn her bachelor's degree in |
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music education at Texas Southern University and studied vocal |
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techniques under noted private instructors, at the University of |
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Arizona, and through the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, |
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the Merola Opera Program of the San Francisco Opera Company, and the |
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American Institute of Musical Studies in Austria; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Baines toured the country with Broadway |
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companies and performed in Europe and Asia as well; her soprano |
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repertoire ranged from classical music to art songs and spirituals, |
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and she loved to promote the works of African American composers; |
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among numerous accolades, she received the national Dealy Award in |
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the vocal category, as well as the top National Soloist Bureau Award |
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of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to her profession, Ms. Baines maintained |
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a number of affiliations, among them the Houston Metropolitan |
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Chorale, the American Guild of Musical Artists, and the National |
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Association for the Study and Performance of African American |
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Music; she was also a lifelong member of Pleasant Hill Baptist |
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Church in the Fifth Ward; and |
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WHEREAS, Shirley Baines brought joy to countless people |
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through her musical gifts, and although she will be greatly missed |
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by those she left behind, she will forever hold a special place in |
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their hearts; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Shirley Baines and |
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extend sincere condolences to all who mourn her passing; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her loved ones and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Shirley |
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Baines. |