[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 316 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

  2d Session
S. RES. 316

 Designating the year beginning February 1, 2003, as the ``Year of the 
                                Blues''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 1, 2002

 Mrs. Lincoln (for herself, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Frist, Ms. 
  Cantwell, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. Fitzgerald) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

                           September 5, 2002

                Reported by Mr. Leahy, without amendment

                           September 12, 2002

                        Considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Designating the year beginning February 1, 2003, as the ``Year of the 
                                Blues''.

Whereas blues music is the most influential form of American roots music, with 
        its impact heard around the world in rock and roll, jazz, rhythm and 
        blues, country, and even classical music;
Whereas the blues is a national historic treasure, which needs to be preserved, 
        studied, and documented for future generations;
Whereas the blues is an important documentation of African-American culture in 
        the twentieth century;
Whereas the various forms of the blues document twentieth-century American 
        history during the Great Depression and in the areas of race relations, 
        pop culture, and the migration of the United States from a rural, 
        agricultural society to an urban, industrialized Nation;
Whereas the blues is the most celebrated form of American roots music, with 
        hundreds of festivals held and millions of new or reissued blues albums 
        released each year in the United States;
Whereas the blues and blues musicians from the United States, whether old or 
        new, male or female, are recognized and revered worldwide as unique and 
        important ambassadors of the United States and its music;
Whereas it is important to educate the young people of the United States to 
        understand that the music that they listen to today has its roots and 
        traditions in the blues;
Whereas there are many living legends of the blues in the United States who need 
        to be recognized and to have their story captured and preserved for 
        future generations; and
Whereas the year 2003 is the centennial anniversary of when W.C. Handy, a 
        classically-trained musician, heard the blues for the first time, in a 
        train station in Mississippi, thus enabling him to compose the first 
        blues music to distribute throughout the United States, which led to him 
        being named ``Father of the Blues'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the year beginning February 1, 2003, as the 
        ``Year of the Blues''; and
            (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling on the people of the United States to observe the 
        ``Year of the Blues'' with appropriate ceremonies, activities, 
        and educational programs.
                                 <all>