[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 16, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING PHILADELPHIA DIVA PATTI LaBELLE AND BROADWAY STAR DOUGLAS 
                                 SILLS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JON D. FOX

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 16, 1998

  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor two 
outstanding entertainers who are being recognized for their talents and 
their dedication to charitable causes.
  On Thursday evening, September 24, Ms. LaBelle will receive the 
``1998 Distinguished Arts Award'' by Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Ridge 
as part of the Governor's Awards for the Arts.
  Broadway superstar, Douglas Sills, currently the Tony Award nominated 
star of The Scarlet Pimpernel at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway is 
being honored by the Leukemia Society of America with the ``Shining 
Star Award'' in recognition of his commitment to charitable causes as 
well as his enormous talent. Among his theatre credits are the Los 
Angeles production of Tim Rice's Chess, the national touring company of 
Into the Woods, by Stephen Sondheim, the First National Tour of The 
Secret Garden and regional programs throughout the Nation. On 
television he has had roles on ``Coach,'' ``Empty Nest,'' ``Models 
Inc.,'' ``Party of Five,'' ``Sisters,'' ``Sliders,'' and ``Women of the 
House.'' His film credits include Funny About Love, The Swan Princess 
II, Escape from Castle Mountain.
  Mr. Sills holds degrees in theatre from the University of Michigan 
and the American Conservatory Theatre. He is a two-time Dramalogue 
Award winner and a charter member of the Antaeus Project at the Mark 
Taper Forum and Produced Dinah Was in Los Angeles. His role of Percy in 
The Scarlet Pimpernel has brought him numerous honors including the 
1998 Theatre Award for Best Actor and the Drama League Award for 
Outstanding Artists. He was also nominated for the 1998 Best Actor Tony 
Award and as Best Actor for the Outer Critics Circle Award, FANY Award 
and the Theatre World Award.
  Patti LaBelle is a musical sensation, dazzling audiences for an 
incredible 37 years. Born in Philadelphia, Ms. LaBelle has been singing 
all her life, first as a child in the Beulah Baptist Church gospel 
choir and then, as a teenager, in the legendary girl group Patti 
LaBelle and the Bluebells. In 1961, the Bluebells hit the charts with 
its first single, ``I Sold My Heart To The Junkman'' which went gold. 
The group recorded a number of songs which made the top 40 and played 
the best R&B venues in the Nation including the Apollo Theatre in 
Harlem, the Uptown in Philadelphia and the Regal in Chicago.
  In 1970, a dynamic change in image, sound, costume, management and 
message gave birth to the renamed trio--Labelle. The group's sound 
blended soul, funk, rhythm and blues, gospel, pop and high-intensity 
rock-and-roll, while their futuristic costumes and theatrical staging 
made an unforgettable impact. Labelle's gold album, Night Birds, 
yielded the number-one single of 1975, ``Lady Marmalade.''
  On October 6, 1974, Labelle made history as the first black vocal 
group to appear at the Metropolitan Opera House where thousands of 
audience members included Bette Midler and Jackie Onassis.
  Patti LaBelle made her solo debut in 1977 when she played to overflow 
audiences in New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, and a dozen other 
cities. Since then, Patti LaBelle has gone from triumph to triumph and 
strength to strength. Her one-woman Broadway shows have shattered box 
office records, she has starred in her own prime-time television 
special and weekly TV series, ``Out All Night.'' She starred in the 
national tour and Broadway revivals of the gospel musical Your Arms Too 
Short To Box With God and the role of a nightclub singer in the motion 
picture, A Soldier's Story, which was created especially for her.
  Over the past 21 years, Patti LaBelle has recorded more than 50 
albums and established herself as a major solo recording artist with 
classics like ``You Are My Friend,'' and ``If Only You Knew.'' She has 
garnered 10 Grammy Award nominations and the 1992 Grammy Award for Best 
R&B Vocal Performance; seven NAACP Image Awards (including the coveted 
``Entertainer of the Year Award''), three Emmy Award nominations, two 
American Music Awards and a Cable Ace Award. In 1996, Boston's Berklee 
College of Music presented Ms. LaBelle with an honorary doctorate. Her 
autobiography, Don't Block The Blessings, was a national best seller 
and earned the NAACP Image Award for outstanding literary work. A 
cookbook, LaBelle Cuisine: Recipes to Sing About should be released 
soon.
  Ms. LaBelle is also well known as a humanitarian. She serves as 
spokeswoman for the National Medical Association, the Minority AIDS 
Council's ``Live Long Sugar'' campaign, the National Cancer Institute 
and the American Diabetes Association. The National Cancer Institute 
will receive $90 million in additional research funding and $10 million 
a year over the next five years for education and outreach programs if 
The Laurie Beechman Memorial Act, which I was proud to author, becomes 
law.
  Mr. Speaker, these two extraordinary artists are a clear example of 
the spirit of the entertainment community when it comes to helping 
those in need. Patti LaBelle has a long record of working for a variety 
of causes and has been an outstanding member of the Greater 
Philadelphia community for many years. Douglas Sills is a young man 
with a bright future ahead of him. An excellent singer, Douglas has 
also shown a keen acting skill which will allow him to do both singing 
and non-singing roles. Two years ago, the ``Shining Star Award'' was 
given to a constituent of mine, Laurie Beechman.
  Another reason I am so proud to stand here and tell you about these 
brilliant performers is that they are both scheduled to perform in a 
tribute concert--Let The Memory Live Again! A Musical Celebration For 
Laurie Beechman--on November 30 at the historic Walnut Street Theatre 
in Philadelphia to raise money for GILDA'S CLUB. These two 
outstanding entertainers are just a couple of the many talented artists 
who will join together to raise funds to battle ovarian cancer, the 
disease which took the life of Laurie Beechman in March after a nine-
year struggle against the disease.
  I am amazed that all these wonderful performers are willing to give 
what little time off they have to help others. But, it seems to be a 
Broadway tradition to reach out like this because Laurie Beechman 
performed at many events of this kind. In fact, just two years ago, she 
and Sam Harris performed at Rainbow and Stars to raise money for the 
battle against AIDS. Now, Sam will be co-hosting the tribute to Laurie, 
a woman he called his ``musical soulmate,'' along with Ms. LaBelle.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be associated with Patti LaBelle and 
Douglas Sills who represent the heart and soul of the entertainment 
industry which has dedicated itself to the battle against these 
afflictions and have reached out a hand to those in need. As a result 
of the Laurie Beechman Tribute Concert, GILDA'S CLUB will be 
able to reach out to more people with cancer and their families.
  November 30 will be a night of stars at the Walnut Street Theatre and 
none will shine brighter than Douglas Sills and Patti LaBelle. But, I'm 
sure they would be the first to tell you that the real stars that night 
will be Laurie Beechman and the long struggle against ovarian cancer 
she wages even after her death.
  I insert these comments in the Record so all may know of the 
accomplishments of these two fine performers in the hopes it will 
awaken a similar dedication to humanity in each of us.

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