[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1852]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN HONOR OF THE 6TH ANNUAL JAZZ AT DREW LEGACY MUSIC SERIES AND 
 CULTURAL MARKETPLACE'S TRIBUTE OF DIZZY GILLESPIE AND CURTIS MAYFIELD 
                          AND THE IMPRESSIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 28, 1996

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, on October 5th and 6th, the 
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles will 
be celebrating its 6th Annual Jazz at Drew Legacy Music Series and 
Cultural Marketplace. This year, the festival will be honoring several 
of the best jazz acts in history--Dizzy Gillespie, Curtis Mayfield and 
the Impressions, H.B. Barnum, Melba Liston, and Al Grey, Sr.
  John Birks ``Dizzy'' Gillespie is widely regarded as an icon of 
popular jazz music. His style, which came to be known as ``bebop'', has 
been emulated by musicians around the world. The ability to compose and 
arrange pieces combining his style with big band, synthesizing swing, 
bop and Afro-Cuban music earned him the respect of his famous 
colleagues, from Charlie ``Bird'' Parker and Bud Powell to Oscar 
Pettiford and Thelonius Monk. His collaboration with such artists 
increased his already astonishing creativity and talent and he was 
recognized by the State Department in 1956 and appointed as a cultural 
Ambassador to the United States. He will be recognized posthumously at 
the Drew festival, as is befitting an artist of his stature.
  Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions are yet another example of 
musicians with the talent that sets them apart from others in their 
profession. Curtis Mayfield, Fred Cash, and Sam Gooden were three men 
dedicated to using their craft to positively affect the lives of those 
who listened to their songs. Their unique ability to lift spirits with 
their instruments and voices has been rewarded by a large following of 
fans and musicians alike, and an induction into the Rock 'n Roll Hall 
of Fame.
  H.B. Barnum has been singing and playing the piano from the age of 4, 
and he has mastered every instrument from tuba to drums. H.B. Barnum is 
highly recognized as a conductor, composer, producer and director, and 
his credits include television commercials, award shows, and theatrical 
productions and concerts. His work has been performed by artists such 
as Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Lou Rawls, Diana Ross, Dionne 
Warwick, Stevie Wonder, B.B. King and Frank Sinatra, just to name a 
few. Yet despite such a successful career, H.B. Barnum still finds the 
time to give to his community through activities such as feeding the 
hungry. He has received more than 1,000 commendations from groups as 
diverse as local organizations to Presidents of the United States.
  Native Angeleno Melba Liston has distinguished herself as a 
performer, writer, arranger and composer for orchestras, big bands, 
jazz masters and outstanding vocalists for nearly five decades. Some of 
the most notable include Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, 
Cab Calloway, Quincy Jones, Gerald Wilson, Clark Terry, the Boston 
Pops, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Sarah Vaughn, Aretha Franklin, and Dinah 
Washington. She leapt over gender discrimination in her field and paved 
the way for other women to follow. Melba Liston has actively advocated 
the music profession, establishing the African-American Division of the 
Jamaica School of Music in 1973 at the invitation of the country's 
leaders and teaching at Jazzmobile in New York City and at the Pratt 
Institute Youth In Action Orchestra in Brooklyn. Her numerous 
commendations include the Universal Jazz Coalition for Outstanding 
Contributions to Jazz at the Fifth Annual Women's Jazz Festival, the 
Annual Black Musicians' Conference's Distinguished Achievement Award, 
and the highest citation at the 1975 Jamaica Jazz Festival.
  Al Grey, Sr. is a pre-eminent trombonist, composer, arranger and 
educator, working with some of the greatest talents in the world, 
including Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Carter, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, 
Jimmy Lunceford, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis, Jr., Tony Bennett, and 
Sarah Vaughn, just to name a few. He has played for every elected U.S. 
President since Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and at the White House for 
the 40th anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival, and at the Inaugural 
Gala of President William Jefferson Clinton. His achievements have been 
documented by the International Association of Jazz Educators and the 
Thelonious Monk Institute and is also a clinician for the Clark Terry 
International Institute of Jazz Studies, the Lionel Hampton School of 
Music, the University of New Hampshire, East Stroudsburg University, 
Temple University, and other academic centers.
  Mr. Speaker, these fine musicians have exhibited a wonderful talent 
and a great commitment to their profession. Tribute should be paid to 
each one for the contribution they have made for the enrichment they 
have provided to our lives. I look forward to joining Drew University 
in honoring these deserving artists.

                          ____________________