[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 65 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 65

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that James Brown, 
 also known as the ``Godfather of Soul'', should be recognized for his 
    contributions to American music as one of the greatest and most 
influential entertainers of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s as an American 
                             cultural icon.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 26, 2009

  Mr. Rangel submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that James Brown, 
 also known as the ``Godfather of Soul'', should be recognized for his 
    contributions to American music as one of the greatest and most 
influential entertainers of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s as an American 
                             cultural icon.

Whereas James Brown was a musician and bandleader, entrepreneur, philanthropist, 
        advocate for education, and creator of the musical background for the 
        Civil Rights Movement;
Whereas James Brown was born on May 3, 1933, in Barnwell, South Carolina;
Whereas James Brown was raised in dire poverty in Augusta, Georgia, where in his 
        childhood years he helped to support his family by picking cotton and 
        shining shoes;
Whereas he began his musical career as a singer with the ``The Gospel 
        Starlighters'' in 1955;
Whereas later that year he had his first musical success as a member of a group 
        called ``The Flames'' whose first single, ``Please, Please, Please'', 
        sold over 1,000,000 copies;
Whereas James Brown delighted audiences around the world with his unique dance 
        moves and nonstop energy;
Whereas his shows at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, and other 
        venues were consistently sold out;
Whereas James Brown became known nationally as a superstar after the release of 
        a live recorded performance at the Apollo in 1963;
Whereas his 1968 recording ``Say It Loud I'm Black and I'm Proud'', became a 
        virtual anthem for the Civil Rights Movement, reflecting African-
        Americans' new-found pride in their racial identity;
Whereas James Brown was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in New York 
        on January 23, 1986;
Whereas he was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 34th 
        annual Grammy Awards on February 25, 1992;
Whereas James Brown received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in 2003;
Whereas he was inducted into the United Kingdom Music Hall of Fame on November 
        14, 2006;
Whereas James Brown was a trailblazer and pioneer in the music genres of Rock 
        and Roll, Rhythm and Blues, Funk, and Hip Hop;
Whereas because of poverty, he dropped out of school in the 7th grade;
Whereas James Brown became a staunch advocate for education;
Whereas his signature song, ``Don't Be A Dropout'', released in 1966, urged 
        young people to stay in school;
Whereas James Brown owned radio stations, publishing companies, and record 
        labels;
Whereas to honor his wish of supporting musical creativity in young people, his 
        family has established the James Brown Music Education Foundation which 
        will provide music scholarships for aspiring musicians;
Whereas James Brown died on December 25, 2006, in Atlanta Georgia; and
Whereas in recognition of his close association with the Apollo Theater, his 
        body lay in state there as thousands of visitors from New York and 
        across the country filed by to pay their respects: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that James Brown should be recognized 
for his contributions as an American musical icon.
                                 <all>