[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 501 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.Con.Res.501
                                    Agreed to September 30, 2004        

                       One Hundred Eighth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
           the twentieth day of January, two thousand and four


                          Concurrent Resolution

Whereas jazz music is America's classical music and is an art form that 
  is indigenous to the United States;

Whereas the influence of jazz has spread across the world and jazz 
  truly incorporates and transcends differences of nationality, 
  religion, language, culture, socioeconomic status, and race;

Whereas Edward Kennedy ``Duke'' Ellington, who was born on April 29, 
  1899 in Washington, D.C., and died on May 24, 1974 in New York City, 
  was one of the pioneers of jazz music;

Whereas Duke Ellington formed his first band in 1917;

Whereas over the course of his 50-year musical career, Duke Ellington 
  took jazz to the farthest corners of the world, performing in Europe, 
  the Soviet Union, Japan, and Australia during the 1960's on 
  diplomatic tours sponsored by the Department of State;

Whereas among his numerous other public honors, Duke Ellington was 
  appointed to the National Council on the Arts in 1968, received the 
  President's Gold Medal in 1966 from President Lyndon Johnson, and was 
  awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor a 
  civilian can receive in the United States, in 1969;

Whereas Duke Ellington has also received many awards and honors from 
  private entities, including 13 GRAMMY Awards from the National 
  Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences over 40 years, the Pied Piper 
  Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers 
  in 1968, and honorary doctoral degrees from 16 institutions;

Whereas after the death of Duke Ellington, Western High School in 
  Washington, D.C., was renamed the Duke Ellington School of the Arts 
  and is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year;

Whereas the House of Representatives has declared that jazz is a rare 
  and valuable national treasure that deserves attention, support, and 
  resources to ensure that it is preserved, understood, and 
  promulgated;

Whereas Washington, D.C., does not currently host its own jazz 
  festival;

Whereas Charles Fishman, who was Dizzy Gillespie's personal manager and 
  producer until his death and is highly regarded in the jazz world, 
  has established the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, a non-profit 
  organization which will produce an annual Duke Ellington Jazz 
  Festival in Washington, D.C., beginning in 2005;

Whereas Duke Ellington Jazz Festival will consist of events across 
  Washington, D.C., over a number of days, most of which will be free 
  of charge, and will culminate in 2 days of concerts on the National 
  Mall;

Whereas the rich musical legacy, international character, and diverse 
  community of Washington, D.C. make it the ideal city to host a world-
  class international jazz festival; and

Whereas the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival will soon become known as one 
  of the leading jazz festivals in the world, showcasing the best in 
  jazz music in the shadow of the United States Capitol: Now, 
  therefore, be it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
        (1) honors the life and work of Duke Ellington and his immortal 
    contributions to American and world music;
        (2) recognizes the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in 
    Washington, D.C., on the occasion of its 30th anniversary; and
        (3) supports the annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival to be held 
    in Washington, D.C., beginning in 2005.
  Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

  Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.