[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 837 Introduced in House (IH)]

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114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 837

Expressing support for designating August 22, 2016, as national ``Chuck 
Brown Day'' and honoring his contributions to music and to the District 
                              of Columbia.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 14, 2016

   Ms. Norton (for herself and Mr. Johnson of Georgia) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight 
                         and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for designating August 22, 2016, as national ``Chuck 
Brown Day'' and honoring his contributions to music and to the District 
                              of Columbia.

Whereas Chuck Brown is known as the ``Godfather of Go-Go'' because he was the 
        major architect of the musical genre known as go-go, a unique mix of 
        funk, soul, and Latin party sounds;
Whereas Chuck Brown, who was born on August 22, 1936, and passed away on May 16, 
        2012, at the age of 75, was a District of Columbia resident most of his 
        life;
Whereas Chuck Brown, who taught himself to play guitar, became a virtuoso 
        singer, songwriter, guitarist, and band leader;
Whereas Chuck Brown's go-go beat gave the District of Columbia a musical 
        identity of its own and reminds the Nation that Washington, DC, has 
        always been the hometown of talented artists such as Duke Ellington and 
        Marvin Gaye;
Whereas Chuck Brown's musical catalogue spans 22 studio albums over 3 decades;
Whereas Chuck Brown's hit ``Bustin' Loose'', with his group, the Soul Searchers 
        was the top song on the Billboard Top 100 R&B Chart for four weeks in 
        1979;
Whereas Chuck Brown earned a Grammy nomination in 2010 for the song ``Love'', 
        from his album entitled We Got This, and was awarded a National 
        Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship in 2005;
Whereas Chuck Brown's go-go has been passed from generation to generation with 
        undiminished popularity;
Whereas Chuck Brown influenced jazz, rap, and go-go musicians such as the bands 
        Trouble Funk, Rare Essence, and Experience Unlimited (also known as 
        E.U.);
Whereas Chuck Brown was so committed to securing statehood and equal voting 
        rights for the residents of the District of Columbia that he played a 
        concert on a very hot, humid day on the Capitol grounds in 2010;
Whereas the District of Columbia has named a street near the historic, 
        modernized Howard Theatre for Chuck Brown;
Whereas the District of Columbia has named a park located at 2901 20th St. NE., 
        for Chuck Brown;
Whereas Chuck Brown is admired for having risen from humble beginnings and 
        overcoming time in prison to become a devoted father and family man;
Whereas Chuck Brown was a great, multi-talented musician who brought joy through 
        his music, never stopping until his death; and
Whereas August 22, 2015, is Chuck Brown's birthday: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the 
designation of ``Chuck Brown Day'', and honors Chuck Brown's 
contributions to music and to the District of Columbia.
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