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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Austin blues icon W. C. Clark passed away on |
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March 2, 2024, at the age of 84, bringing a great loss to his |
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family, his friends, and his many fans; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Ida Mae Shelby and Curley B. Clark, |
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Wesley Curley Clark was born in Austin on November 16, 1939; when |
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his mother remarried, he gained a second father, Shedric Monk |
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Shelby, and he grew up with 11 siblings; he was only 12 when he began |
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playing guitar for a gospel quartet, and at 16, he made his debut on |
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the East Side blues scene; after playing with many of its stalwarts, |
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including T. D. Bell and Blues Boy Hubbard, he was discovered by Joe |
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Tex and joined the soul star's touring band; and |
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WHEREAS, Returning to Austin in the 1970s, Mr. Clark became a |
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pillar of a vibrant music scene on the west side; a gifted bassist |
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and vocalist as well as guitar slinger, he formed the Triple Threat |
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Revue with Lou Ann Barton and Stevie Ray Vaughan; he also influenced |
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and mentored such artists as Jimmie Vaughan, Angela Strehli, and |
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Charlie and Will Sexton, earning the nickname "the Godfather of |
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Austin blues"; in the 1980s, he launched the W. C. Clark Blues |
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Revue, which he would lead for nearly four decades; along the way, |
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he supplemented his income as an auto mechanic and carpenter; |
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although he cowrote "Cold Shot," which became an enormous hit for |
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Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Mr. Clark first rose to |
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national prominence himself with an all-star Austin City Limits |
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show celebrating his 50th birthday; a few years later, he signed |
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with Blacktop Records and released a series of acclaimed albums, |
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among them From Austin with Soul, on the Alligator label; he |
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garnered numerous accolades, most notably prestigious W. C. Handy |
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Blues Awards in several categories; he won various Austin Music |
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Awards as well, and he was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of |
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Fame; his fans loved his warmth, kindness, and sense of humor, as |
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well as his musical gifts, and he continued to play for them |
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throughout his lifetime; in his last years, he held a popular weekly |
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residency at Giddy Ups in South Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Clark was the father of a son, Carl, who died in |
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2013, and a daughter, Brittany; he eventually became a grandfather |
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and great-grandfather, and he shared enduring friendships with his |
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former wives, Helen Clark and Kathy Wells; devoted to his large |
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extended family and many friends, he was always ready to lend them a |
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helping hand; he was deeply spiritual and a lifelong member of |
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St. John's College Heights Missionary Baptist Church; and |
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WHEREAS, W. C. Clark left an indelible imprint on Texas |
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music, and he will forever hold a treasured place in the hearts of |
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all who were fortunate enough to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of W. C. Clark and extend |
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sincere condolences to his family, his friends, and all who mourn |
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his passing; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of W. C. |
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Clark. |
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Cole |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 25 was unanimously adopted by a rising |
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vote of the House on March 6, 2025. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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