House Resolution 23

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING LEGENDARY AND RENOWNED MUSICIAN MR. RICKEY MEDLOCKE FOR HIS MUSICAL ARTISTRY AS A MEMBER OF CELEBRATED ROCK BANDS LYNYRD SKYNYRD AND BLACKFOOT.

WHEREAS, Plato once philosophized that "Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything," and as such there remains no mystique in characterizing the perfected rhythmic cadence of life of the six instruments, seven if you include his melodious gift of voice, craftsman and talent extraordinaire, Mr. Rickey Medlocke; and

WHEREAS, renowned musician Rickey Medlocke is a legendary musical artist who has used his talents as a guitarist and singer during his time as a celebrated member of BlackFoot and the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famer Lynyrd Skynyrd; and

WHEREAS, music truly courses through his blood, as he was trained by one of the best, his grandfather Shorty Medlocke, a famous Delta Blues/Bluegrass and Country musician and banjo player from Jacksonville, Florida, and by the time he completed high school, Rickey had become a musical prodigy, having honed his musical prowess from playing just the miniature banjo at age three, to mastering the banjo, guitar, drums, mandolin, dobro and keyboards; and

WHEREAS, having commenced his professional music career in 1969 with Blackfoot, he played with Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1971 to 1972 as a session musician, lending his drum talents and singing talents to a few songs that would become favorites: such as "One More Time", "Preacher's Daughter", "Lend a Helpin' Hand", "Wino", "White Dove", "Comin' Home", "The Seasons", "Ain't Too Proud to Pray", and "You Run Around"; and

WHEREAS, in those early years with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rickey occasionally played alongside the infamous Bob Burns, the band's original drummer, igniting a passion in Rickey for the front stage and leading him to reform Blackfoot in 1972, with whom he remained for the next 25 years, building a legacy as a wheelhouse of creativity from instrumentality, to songwriting, to composing, each of which cemented his presence in America's musical history as a talented musician in his own right; and

WHEREAS, it was during this time that he began touring and producing a catalog of hit songs that included "Train, Train" which was written by his grandfather, and "Highway Song" written by Ricky and his Blackfoot drummer Jakson Spires until he disbanded Blackfoot in the early 1990s; and

WHEREAS, the opportunity of a lifetime came "a-knocking" in 1996 when, unbeknownst to fans everywhere, Gary Rossington invited Rickey to rejoin Lynyrd Skynyrd as lead guitarist and primary songwriter, and as we now can say, the rest remains history in the making, as Rickey is still playing and writing for Lynyrd Skynyrd today; and

WHEREAS, due to his exponential popularity, Rickey, who remains a highly sought after talent, still occasionally collaborates with other musicians like Blackberry Smoke, Shooter Jennings and Bo Bice on some of entertainment's grandest stages, but his heart and commitment are with Lynyrd Skynyrd; and

WHEREAS, since creating a residence in DeSoto County, Mississippi, the "Birthplace of America's music," where the crossroads of musical artistry cascade freely like well-placed notes scaling the maps of the treble and bass staff, Mr. Medlocke's presence as a bona fide citizen of Mississippi comes much to the delight of his new hometowners, whose joy as his neighbors is tantamount to that of all Mississippians who pride themselves in sharing this great state with first class celebrities of Rickey's star power, who choose to make the Magnolia State their home; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to celebrate the accomplishments of musical artists who have used their talents to enhance the musical landscape of our lives:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend acclaimed musical artist Mr. Rickey Medlocke for bringing the gift of music into the lives of millions.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Rickey Medlocke and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.