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This concurrent resolution mourns the passing of Joseph "Joe" Dera, a renowned music publicist, businessman, and mentor who significantly impacted the music industry over five decades. It commemorates his life and legacy, expressing sympathy to his family and friends. The resolution highlights his early life, his entry into the music industry as a writer and then press agent for artists like Robert Palmer, and his work at prominent firms like Rogers and Cowan, where he represented music legends such as David Bowie, Paul McCartney, and the Bee Gees, notably overseeing Bowie's 1983 tour and representing Live Aid in 1985. It also details his entrepreneurial success with his own agency, Dera and Associates, which represented numerous stars, and his long-standing role as Paul McCartney's spokesman. The resolution acknowledges his strong ties to Mississippi, his retirement there, and his active participation in the local community, including rescuing dogs and supporting local businesses, ultimately celebrating him as an iconic resident and a true American success story. Copies of this resolution will be sent to his family and the Capitol Press Corps.

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HC/HC0009.xml