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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Lone Star State is renowned around the world for |
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its extensive contributions to country music, and the city of |
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Carthage has played a significant role in furthering the genre and |
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celebrating and preserving its cultural legacy; and |
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WHEREAS, Carthage is home to the Texas Country Music Hall of |
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Fame, which focuses on the state's contributions to this |
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American-born artform and on the many Texas performers and |
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songwriters who have shaped its development; and |
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WHEREAS, That illustrious list includes two country legends |
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who trace their roots to the Carthage area: Tex Ritter and Jim |
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Reeves; Mr. Ritter hailed from Murvaul, just south of Carthage, and |
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during a career that stretched from the 1930s to the 1970s, he |
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became a beloved cowboy singer and star of more than 70 Western |
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movies; his achievements are chronicled in the Tex Ritter Museum, |
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which was first organized in Carthage in 1993 and is now part of the |
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Texas Country Music Hall of Fame; Mr. Reeves, a Carthage High |
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School graduate, earned legions of fans for his velvet-voiced style |
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of singing and recorded numerous hits from the early 1950s until his |
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tragic death in a plane crash in 1964; his gravesite east of |
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Carthage continues to draw visitors from around the globe; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to paying tribute to Mr. Ritter and |
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Mr. Reeves, the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame includes an elite |
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roster of other Texas-born musicians; inductees range from early |
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figures such as Ernest Tubb and Bob Wills, to classic country |
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superstars like Willie Nelson and George Jones, to influential |
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performers and songwriters such as Tanya Tucker, Clint Black, Cindy |
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Walker, and Carthage native Linda Davis, to name but a few of those |
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who are honored; and |
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WHEREAS, Each summer, the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame |
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presents the Classic Country Music Festival, a multiday celebration |
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that draws thousands of visitors from across the state and beyond to |
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enjoy live performances, the hall of fame induction ceremony, and |
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other events; and |
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WHEREAS, Another annual musical highlight is the John Ritter |
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Showcase, which spotlights emerging talent in country music and |
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celebrates the late John Ritter, the son of Tex Ritter, who was an |
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iconic entertainer in his own right as well as an effective advocate |
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for the arts; moreover, Carthage hosts the Country Music Hayride, a |
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continuing series of performances at the Esquire Theater; and |
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Carthage have demonstrated a lasting |
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commitment to celebrating the rich history of Texas country music, |
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and the city's efforts to foster greater appreciation of the genre |
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and the state's impressive pantheon of performers is indeed |
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deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate Carthage as the official Country Music Capital of |
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Texas; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of |
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Section 391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in |
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effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is |
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finally passed by the legislature. |