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HR 1038

TO HONOR BLUES MUSICIAN, COMPOSER, RECORD PRODUCER, AND SINGER BOBBY RUSH FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO MUSIC AND TO THE STATE OF ARKANSAS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Matt Duffield

An honorary Arkansas House resolution recognizing blues musician Bobby Rush for his contributions to music and the state, with a copy presented to him by the Chief Clerk.

READ AND ADOPTED.
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Bill Summary · HR 1038

Summary — Arkansas House Resolution HR 1038 (95th General Assembly, 2025)

Title: To honor blues musician, composer, record producer, and singer Bobby Rush for his contributions to music and to the State of Arkansas.

Main purpose

HR 1038 is an honorary House resolution recognizing and celebrating the life, career, and contributions of blues musician Bobby Rush — emphasizing his ties to Pine Bluff, Arkansas — and directing that a copy of the resolution be presented to him by the Chief Clerk of the Arkansas House.

Key provisions

  • Officially honors Bobby Rush for his contributions to music and to the State of Arkansas.
  • Requests that, upon adoption, a copy of the resolution be presented to Bobby Rush by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives.

(No regulatory, fiscal, or programmatic changes are made; the resolution is purely commemorative.)

Factual and biographical highlights cited

  • Born Emmett Ellis, Jr., near Homer, Louisiana, on November 10, 1933.
  • Spent his teenage years in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where he began his musical career and formed early bands (e.g., Bobby Rush and the Four Jivers).
  • Associations with notable artists including Elmore James, Ike Turner, Etta James, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and others.
  • Commercial milestones: "Chicken Heads" (gold-certified; reached No. 34 on Billboard R&B chart in 1971; featured in the film Black Snake Moan and re-charted in 2006); "I Wanna Do the Do" (No. 75 on Billboard R&B chart, 1979); albums Sue (1981) and I Ain’t Studdin’ You (1991) noted as gold-certified.
  • Film and documentary appearances: Martin Scorsese’s The Blues series, I Am the Blues, and a 2019 appearance in Dolemite Is My Name.
  • Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Blues Album in 2017 (Porcupine Meat), 2021 (Rawer than Raw), and 2024 (All My Love for You).
  • Inductee into multiple halls of fame (Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, Blues Hall of Fame, Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame, Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame).

Who is affected

  • Primary effect is symbolic recognition of Bobby Rush and elevation of Arkansas’s cultural heritage. There are no legal or budgetary impacts on citizens, agencies, or programs.

Legislative/actions timeline and status

  • Introduced in the House: February 5, 2025
  • Referred to House Committee on Education and Workforce: February 5, 2025
  • Committee returned Do Pass: February 13, 2025
  • Read and adopted (initial action noted): February 18, 2025
  • Placed on Calendars / Laid before the House / Adopted: May 23, 2025
  • Reported enrolled: May 24, 2025
  • Final status: Adopted (nonbinding, ceremonial resolution)
  • Upon adoption, a copy to be presented to Bobby Rush by the Chief Clerk.

Sponsors

  • Primary sponsors: Duffield; Gabe Vasquez (listed)
  • Cosponsors: Zachary Nunn; Brian K. Fitzpatrick

Note: HR 1038 is an honorary state House resolution recognizing an individual; it creates no enforceable rights, funding, or statutory changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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