Florida Senate - 2013                            (NP)    SR 1894
       
       
       
       By Senator Bean
       
       
       
       
       4-04730-13                                            20131894__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing the ballad “I Am Florida” as
    3         one of the official state songs of this state and as a
    4         companion piece to “The Swanee River (Old Folks at
    5         Home).”
    6  
    7         WHEREAS, the ballad “I Am Florida” was produced and
    8  recorded by Walter “Clyde” Orange, a Grammy Award-winning
    9  songwriter, vocalist, and founding member of The Commodores, and
   10         WHEREAS, Clyde Orange, Adrian Rezza, and Lucas Rezza wrote
   11  the ballad, which was inspired by the lyrics of the poem “I Am
   12  Florida,” written by South Florida author Allen Autry, Sr., in
   13  2010, and
   14         WHEREAS, Autry’s poem “I Am Florida” reflects Clyde
   15  Orange’s deep love and affection for his birthplace and home,
   16  and so he composed the ballad “I Am Florida” to lovingly reflect
   17  the beauty and history of this great state, and
   18         WHEREAS, the ballad “I Am Florida” illustrates the reasons
   19  that millions of men and women, families, and retired persons
   20  have made the state their home and references historical
   21  milestones that have contributed to the growth of this state,
   22  and
   23         WHEREAS, widely appealing throughout the country, the
   24  ballad “I Am Florida” is an outstanding example of what brings
   25  so many people to this culturally rich state, and
   26         WHEREAS, recognition of “I Am Florida” as one of the
   27  official state songs of Florida is in no way intended to
   28  supplant “The Swanee River (Old Folks at Home)” as the official
   29  state song, but, instead, “I Am Florida” should be recognized as
   30  a companion piece, NOW, THEREFORE,
   31  
   32  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   33  
   34         That we recognize the ballad “I Am Florida,” written by
   35  Walter “Clyde” Orange, as one of the official state songs of
   36  this state and as a companion piece to “The Swanee River (Old
   37  Folks at Home).”