[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15779-15780]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY CANALES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 13, 1999

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the entire House of 
Representatives to join me in commending a giant in the U.S. 
entertainment industry, Johnny Canales.
  Tomorrow, on July 14, Johnny will receive the keys to the City of 
Brownville from Mayor Blanca Vela at an event intended to showcase how 
the United States educational system works. It is sponsored by the 
Students in Free Enterprise Alumnus, and will be televised live on 
Telemundo.
  Johnny and his beautiful wife, Nora, have always been interested in 
the educational system of this country, but now have a personal stake 
in it since they now have a baby who will begin an education in 4-5 
years.
  As the Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Task Force on 
the Arts and Entertainment, I am delighted to tell you about my long-
time friend, and Corpus Christi native, Johnny Canales. Johnny Canales 
is an extraordinary entertainer who touches the hearts, and tickles the 
fancies, of viewers and listeners of all ages and all income brackets 
throughout the world. He is a host-extraordinare.
  Today, and for many, many years, he has hosted ``The Johnny Canales 
Show,'' a popular television show which showcases Hispanic talents from 
the Southwest and Mexico. Johnny's signature line then and now, when 
introducing groups or singers, is: ``You got it.'' He brings stature 
and commitment to any endeavor with which he is associated.
  In 1992, when I was serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of 
the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), I had Johnny come 
to Washington to co-host the Institute's annual gala, the largest 
gathering of Hispanic elected officials in the country. True

[[Page 15780]]

to form, he charmed each and every person there.
  I was most impressed with the reception Johnny got over in Mount 
Pleasant, the predominantly Hispanic enclave in northeast Washington. 
CHCI once held afternoon concerts the day prior to the annual gala to 
share the sense of commonality with people in the community who could 
not afford the price of tickets to the Gala.
  Johnny hosted the talents that would play at the Gala the following 
evening. Knowing that Johnny Canales would be the host was as big a 
draw as the bands which would be playing. I watched in awe as little 
boys and girls, largely of Central American heritage, cautiously walked 
up to Johnny to shake his hand . . . inevitably, they all said, ``You 
got it,'' mimicking his signature line.
  Mr. Speaker, since our business keeps me here this week and away from 
my friends who are celebrating Johnny's career, I hope all of you will 
join me in commemorating this patriot and great Hispanic talent.

                          ____________________