[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 56 (Monday, May 5, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL GREENE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 5, 1997

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of an outstanding 
individual, Michael Greene. Mr. Greene has led a truly remarkable life, 
in which he has utilized his passion for music in the realms of 
business, philanthropy, and education.
  While completing his degrees in business and marketing Michael began 
his career as a recording artist and producer. In a few years he became 
President and CEO of Apogee Recording Studios where he managed 5 
publishing companies containing over 5,000 song titles. He then entered 
into the cable television industry, where he founded the Nation's first 
video music network, the Video Music Channel. He would later assume the 
position of vice president of Crawford Post Productions, helping turn 
his small company into a leader in the field of video and film 
properties. While Michael was extremely busy and successful in his 
work, he always made time to give back to his community.
  Throughout his career Michael has acted as a steward of music and the 
arts, especially in regard to their continued presence in America's 
schools. In this era of shrinking budgets, musical education has 
increasingly been viewed as a nonessential element in primary and 
secondary education, making it one of the areas hit hardest by 
cutbacks. Michael has led several efforts to reverse this trend and to 
promote music education. He was a cofounder of the National Coalition 
for Music Education which works to empower communities around the 
Nation to take the necessary steps on the local level to ensure that 
music and the arts will continue to be taught in their local schools. 
He was also the founder of National Arts Advocacy Day which sought to 
bring congressional attention to the elimination of arts education.
  Michael has worked extensively on the local level where, largely due 
to his work, the number of secondary music programs has doubled in the 
Los Angeles Unified School District since 1991. It seems Michael takes 
to heart the following observation by Joseph Addison: ``A man that has 
a taste of music, painting, or architecture, is like one that has 
another sense.'' Indeed Michael's legacy will be the appreciation and 
enjoyment of the arts in children that might otherwise never have known 
the genius of Mozart or Van Gogh.
  Michael's fortitude and conviction led him to be one of the first 
within the musical community to take a vocal stance against the scourge 
of drug abuse among musicians. He created ``Substance Abuse in Music: 
an Industry Intervention,'' and has encouraged higher standards in the 
fight against drugs. His efforts were made in hope of diminishing the 
glorification of substance abuse in the music industry.
  His work as a businessman, artist, and philanthropist has made him a 
leader in the music industry for many years. In 1988 his position 
became official, as he became the Recording Academy's president and 
CEO. Next week the University of Southern California will award him 
with a Doctor of Music degree during their commencement ceremonies. 
This kind of honor is fitting for an individual that has done so much 
for his country, and his passion--music. I am privileged to represent 
such an individual and look forward to working with him in the future.

                          ____________________