TITLE: Commemorating the 40th annual Kerrville Folk Festival.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the 40th annual Kerrville Folk Festival.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, May 26, 2011, marks the opening day of the 40th annual Kerrville Folk Festival; and WHEREAS, Founded in 1972 by Rod Kennedy, the Kerrville Folk Festival was first held in the Kerrville Municipal Auditorium; in 1974, the event was moved to Quiet Valley Ranch south of Kerrville, a venue that still hosts the celebration each year; drawing more than 20,000 attendees over the course of 18 days, the festival infuses $2.4 million into the local Hill Country economy; and WHEREAS, The Kerrville Folk Festival has entertained appreciative audiences with performances by thousands of talented musicians, singers, and songwriters, including such folk, blues, and country music legends as Peter, Paul and Mary, Willie Nelson, Odetta, Tom Paxton, Bob Gibson, Arlo Guthrie, Ian Tyson, Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, Flaco and Santiago Jimenez, Robert Shaw, Allen Damron, Carolyn Hester, Shawn Phillips, Delbert McClinton, Floyd Westerman, B. W. Stevenson, Steven Fromholz, the Flatlanders, Michael Martin Murphey, Willis Alan Ramsey, Juke Boy Bonner, Gatemouth Brown, Kenneth Threadgill, The Indigo Girls, Kinky Friedman, and many others; and WHEREAS, Also featured is the annual Kerrville New Folk Competition; originating from an idea by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, the contest has helped to launch the careers of such well-known singer-songwriters as Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith, Robert Earl Keen, and Lucinda Williams; and WHEREAS, The festival offers classes and workshops for aspiring musicians in songwriting, musicianship, and instruction in instrumental technique for guitar, harmonica, and other folk instruments, and also sponsors continuing education workshops for Texas teachers in the use of music as an instructional tool; and WHEREAS, This year's celebration will feature performances by dozens of talented songwriters and musicians, including Judy Collins, Asleep at the Wheel, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Suzy Bogguss, Marcia Ball, Rodney Dillard, Bonnie Koloc, Butch Hancock, and Trout Fishing in America; and WHEREAS, For four decades, the Kerrville Folk Festival has provided a unique showcase for both established and emerging performing artists while contributing to the preservation and furtherance of our folk music heritage, and it continues to be a yearly highlight for Texans and visitors alike; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 40th annual Kerrville Folk Festival and extend to its organizers and participants sincere best wishes for a successful and memorable event. Hilderbran Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2669 was adopted by the House on May 30, 2011, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House