TITLE: Recognizing George Strait as the 2017 State Musician.

SUMMARY: Recognizing George Strait as the 2017 State Musician.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Texas Commission on the Arts has announced the appointment of George Strait as the 2017 State Musician; and WHEREAS, The Texas State Artist designations are awarded to a select group of individuals to honor the exceptional quality of their work and their outstanding commitment to the arts in Texas; and WHEREAS, Born in Poteet and raised in San Antonio, George Strait revitalized traditional country music when he emerged on the national scene in the 1980s with such hits as "Fool Hearted Memory" and "If You're Thinking You Want a Stranger"; as Nashville moved toward pop over the next decade, he stayed true to Texas honky-tonk and Western swing and continued his reign at the top of the charts, impervious to trends; the only artist to have a Top 10 hit every year for over three decades, he has released an unsurpassed 60 No. 1 singles, and with 33 platinum or multiplatinum albums, he ranks behind only the Beatles and Elvis Presley in sales; and WHEREAS, A recipient of the prestigious National Medal of the Arts, Mr. Strait holds more Country Music Association awards than any other performer, and he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006; seven years later, he soared into the Top 10 once again with "Give It All We Got Tonight" before embarking on The Cowboy Rides Away Tour, his farewell to the road; the final show, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, broke the North American indoor concert attendance record by drawing more than 100,000 fans; at the end of 2016, he released both Strait Out of the Box: Part 2,a multidisc collection, and a new Christmas album, Strait for the Holidays;and WHEREAS, Widely admired for his immense talent, George Strait has made important contributions to his chosen field of artistic endeavor, and in so doing, he has enriched the cultural vitality of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th Legislature, hereby congratulate George Strait on his selection as the 2017 State Musician and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for Mr. Strait as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. Men ndez President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 24, 2017.