[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2262-E2263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO THE LATE FLETCHER HENDERSON, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 3, 1999

  Mr. BISHOP. Mr. Speaker, Fletcher Henderson, Jr. is remembered as one 
of the great figures in jazz history.
  Born in 1898, in the southwest Georgia community of Cuthbert, he 
pioneered as an arranger, composer and leader of an acclaimed band 
featuring the likes of Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins and Lester 
Young.
  He has been gone since 1952, but his memory is kept alive by the 
people of Cuthbert and Randolph County who are restoring the street and 
home where he was born and raised and who annually stage a jazz 
festival in his name, which was held for a full week in late October 
featuring the Fort Benning U.S. Army and Andrew College jazz

[[Page E2263]]

bands, gospel music, and a variety of activities. Visionary citizenship 
made all this possible, led by the planning committee of Chairman Mary 
Kearney, Mayor Willie Martin, Henry Cook, Minnie Lewis, Wesley Shorter, 
and Thelma Walker.
  This is just a start. They are planning even bigger things as a part 
of this community's tribute to a great American and the art form he 
helped shape.
  Congratulations, Cuthbert.

                          ____________________