House Concurrent Resolution 62

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING ACCLAIMED COUNTRY MUSIC ARTIST AND NATIVE MISSISSIPPIAN, SHAWN RANDOLPH "RANDY" HOUSER, FOR HIS MANY ACHIEVEMENTS AS A SINGER AND SONGWRITER, AND EXTEND BEST WISHES FOR MANY MORE YEARS OF SUCCESS.

WHEREAS, Shawn Randolph "Randy" Houser is not only a celebrated American country music artist, who is loved by many, he is also a native son of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, born and raised in Mississippi, he was born in Lake, Mississippi, and graduated from Lake High School; and

WHEREAS, as a child, Randy was a natural musical talent, who, by the age of 13, fronted his own band, and as a young college student at East Central Community College in Decatur, Mississippi, Randy formed his own band, 10 lb. Biscuit; and

WHEREAS, in 2002, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to begin his songwriting career; and

WHEREAS, soon after moving to Nashville, Randy garnered his first songwriting hit, "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," which he co-wrote with Jamey Johnson and Dallas Davidson; and

WHEREAS, after the success of this song, the performance bug bit Randy again, and he shifted his artistic focus to performance and playing gigs at local Nashville hangouts; and

WHEREAS, by 2008, these performance efforts paid off when he was signed to Universal South Records, where he released his debut album, "Anything Goes," which housed his first performance hit track by the same name, "Anything Goes," which entered the Top 40 Billboard Country Music Charts, but quickly progressed to the Top 20 Country Music Chart; and

WHEREAS, his first Top Ten hit, "Boots On," which was released as the second single from the "Anything Goes" album; and

WHEREAS, "They Call Me Cadillac" was the title of his second album, with the single, "Whistlin' Dixie," which peaked at #31 on the Country Music Charts; and

WHEREAS, his third and latest album entitled "How Country Feels" has been his most successful musical venture to date, because it houses two Number One Country Airplay singles, "How Country Feels," which is Randy's first Number One hit on the Country Airplay Chart, and "Runnin' Outta Moonlight," his second Number One hit on the Country Airplay Chart; and

WHEREAS, critics have hailed "How Country Feels" as his best musical venture yet, with MSN writing "Houser is hands down one of the best male vocalists in Nashville."; and

WHEREAS, Houser's success has not been sudden, he has been plowing his skills for years receiving multiple nominations for ACM and CMS, songwriting credits; and

WHEREAS, not one to be overwhelmed by the allure of the music industry, Randy has experienced bumps during his career and has overcome them with triumph; and

WHEREAS, in 2011, his life gained balance when he married Jessa Lee Yantz on September 2 of that year, and greater balance when his son, West Yantz Houser, was born on March 6, 2012; and

WHEREAS, great pride resonates throughout the country sides of this great state when one of our native sons reaches national acclaim, while remaining true to his Southern roots; and

WHEREAS, it is our policy to commend the success of talented, humble, hard working Mississippians, such as Randy Houser, who have earned positive, national recognition, and who claim their Mississippi heritage proudly with a badge of honor throughout this great nation:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mr. Shawn Randolph "Randy" Houser for his many life accomplishments and extend best wishes to our native son for many more years of tremendous success.

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