[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 501 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 501

  Honoring the life and work of Duke Ellington, recognizing the 30th 
 anniversary of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and supporting 
                the annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 28, 2004

 Ms. Norton (for herself, Mr. Conyers, and Mr. Tom Davis of Virginia) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
              the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Honoring the life and work of Duke Ellington, recognizing the 30th 
 anniversary of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and supporting 
                the annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival.

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.
                                 <all>