[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6776]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE GREAT LOSS OF EMILIO NAVAIRA

  (Mr. VEASEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the great loss of 
Grammy-winning Mexican American Tejano and country music star, Emilio 
Navaira.
  Emilio was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1962 and found musical 
inspiration in not only traditional Tejano legends, but also American 
country greats such as Willie Nelson and George Strait.
  His passion and love for music grew and grew; and when he graduated 
from McCollum High School in 1980, he attended Texas State University, 
where he received a music scholarship and majored in music. Although he 
planned to become a teacher, he ultimately followed his passion and 
became an award-winning singer, songwriter, and performer in both the 
U.S. and Mexico markets.
  He started his career with Tejano band David Lee Garza y Los 
Musicales in the late 1980s, and was remembered for sharing the stage 
several times with another Tejano music legend, Selena.
  Emilio, lovingly known as the Garth Brooks of Tejano, was widely 
credited with introducing Tejano music into the mainstream that we know 
and love today. Although we mourn the loss of this Mexican American 
music legend, his memory will live on forever.

                          ____________________