[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S12144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN RECOGNITION OF MARIAN MCPARTLAND'S ``PIANO JAZZ"

 Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Marian 
McPartland's Piano Jazz, produced by the South Carolina Educational 
Radio Network. This Peabody Award-winning show has earned recognition 
for its educational value and importance in promoting and preserving a 
distinctly American art form--jazz.
  Piano Jazz is National Public Radio's [NPR] longest running music 
series and airs on over 250 NPR member stations nationwide. The series 
was conceived in 1979 by the South Carolina Educational Radio Network. 
South Carolina Educational Radio took a considerable risk by launching 
one of the first station-based, locally produced public radio programs 
to air across America.
  The risk paid off. Serving South Carolinians for 17 years, the 
program is a showcase for many of jazz's greatest performances and 
artists, including Bobby Short, Mary Lou Williams, Dizzy Gillespie and 
Wynton Marsalis, and has helped launch the careers of some lesser known 
musicians as well.
  The programs are hosted by Marian McPartland who blends informal but 
information packed conversation with improvisational performances. 
McPartland has been honored by special performances of Piano Jazz at 
the Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. In 1986, she also was inducted 
into the International Association of Jazz Educators Hall of Fame.
  The program has been recognized with many major awards for 
broadcasting excellence, including the Peabody, Gabriel, Armstrong, 
Ohio State and several New York International Radio Festival awards. In 
fact, the show's recordings are so valuable that both the Library of 
Congress and the Rogers & Hammerstein Archive of Recorded Sound of the 
New York Public Library at Lincoln Center are preserving complete 
collections of the series.
  I hope this innovative and award-winning show is able to continue 
serving its broad and varied audience which includes older, established 
jazz aficionados, as well as listeners 25 years old and under. From 
senior citizens to seniors in high school, this program provides the 
best of South Carolina Educational Radio network. Piano Jazz has been 
such a success because of the public's longstanding support. I hope the 
public continues in this support so the show remains strong and 
prosperous.
  In recognition of Piano Jazz, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
paying tribute to Marian McPartland, Henry Cauthen, president and 
founder of the South Carolina Educational Radio Network, and Shari 
Hutchison, the program's producer, for this tremendous and valuable 
cultural jewel.

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