[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  A TRIBUTE IN MEMORY OF BENNY WATERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GREGORY W. MEEKS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, it is with a great sense of loss 
that I pay tribute to Mr. Benny Waters, a jazz legend and the oldest 
touring jazz musician, who died on August 11.
  Benjamin Arthur Waters was born the youngest of seven children to 
Edward and Francis Waters on January 23, 1902 in Brighton, Maryland. 
Mr. Waters started his musical education at age 5 with organ lessons, 
and he soon moved to reed instruments. While in high school, still in 
the pre-jazz era, he played syncopated music with Charlie Miller's 
band. In his late teenage years he attended the Boston Conservatory of 
Music, where he studied theory and arranging and gave private clarinet 
lessons. Among his pupils was Harry Carney, who went on to play 
baritone saxophone with Duke Ellington.
  In 1952, a turning point came in Waters' life when he was asked to 
join Jimmy Archey's Band for a European tour. The saxophonist decided 
to stay on in Paris and remained there making it his home wile touring 
festivals and giving concerts in Europe for the next 42 years. Last 
year, the French government presented Waters with its distinguished 
``Chevalier Legion d'Honneur.''
  Failing eyes and the need for cataract surgery brought the 
saxophonist home and unfortunately resulted in losing his eyesight. 
Waters' never-failing buoyancy and upbeat spirit brought him to the 
attention of the ``Statesmen of Jazz'' Tour, and he was invited to 
become a founding member. Through his performance, he achieved new 
stature at home in America. Waters, along with his fellow 
``Statesmen,'' contributed his time to Arbors Records for the 
``Statesmen'' CD, and its sales are donated to perpetuate the 
nationwide and international tours. His most recent recording was 
``Birdland Birthday--Live at 95.''
  In blindness, he persevered, averaging 100 dates a year until this 
year, making a second-floor apartment in Hollis, Queens--a suburban 
town in my district--his home base. Jazz historians indicate that Benny 
was one of only six survivors of jazz recording artists of the late 
1920s who were still active, along with Claude ``Fiddler'' Williams, 
Benny Carter, Lionel Hampton, Spiegel Willcox and Rosy McHargue.
  Benny will be missed by his family, friends, colleagues, fans and 
communities across the world.

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