My home region getting some "props" here from the House of Representatives (frankly, you'd think they'd have more "important" things to do ... but I appreciate it nonetheless). Check out the last line, especially. Rob Clip: Recognizing the contributions of the cities of Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia, and their people to the origins and development of Country Music, and for other purposes. (Introduced in the House) HCON 214 IH 105th CONGRESS 2d Session H. CON. RES. 214 Recognizing the contributions of the cities of Bristol , Tennessee, and Bristol , Virginia, and their people to the origins and development of Country Music, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 11, 1998 Mr. JENKINS (for himself and Mr. BOUCHER) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Recognizing the contributions of the cities of Bristol , Tennessee, and Bristol , Virginia, and their people to the origins and development of Country Music, and for other purposes. Whereas the cities of Bristol , Tennessee, and Bristol , Virginia, have long been a gathering place for musicians from the nearby mountainous countryside; Whereas phonographic recordings made in Bristol in August of 1927 launched the careers of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers, who are recognized as the first commercially successful modern Country Music artists; Whereas these recordings have been called the `Big Bang of Country Music' by the Country Music Foundation in its publication `Country, the Music and the Musicians'; Whereas Jimmie Rodgers has been named the Father of Country Music and was the first artist to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame; Whereas the original members of the Carter Family have been recognized as Country Music's First Family in part because their works have had an unparalleled influence on succeeding generations of Country Music artists; Whereas `The Roots of Country Music', a three-part television series which aired nationally on the Turner Broadcasting System in June of 1996, recognized the significant contribution of the cities of Bristol to the development and commercial acceptance of Country Music; Whereas in 1984 the Tennessee Senate recognized Bristol as the `Birthplace of Country Music'; and Whereas in 1995, the Virginia General Assembly recognized Bristol as the `Birthplace of Country Music': Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress-- (1) recognizes the critical contributions of the cities of Bristol , Tennessee, and Bristol , Virginia, and their residents to the origins and development of Country Music; (2) congratulates the cities of Bristol , Tennessee, and Bristol , Virginia, for launching with the Bristol recordings of 1927 the careers of the Nation's first widely known Country Music artists; and (3) acknowledges and commends the cities of Bristol , Tennessee, and Bristol , Virginia, as the birthplace of Country Music, a style of music which has enjoyed broad commercial success in the United States and throughout much of the world. Rob Russell Johnson City, TN [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://listen.to/thebystanders