[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 65 (Monday, May 20, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E853-E854]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  HONORING WILLIE RUFF AS HE RECEIVES AN HONORARY DOCTORATE OF HUMANE 
                  LETTERS FROM ALBERTUS MAGNUS COLLEGE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 20, 2002

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to join Albertus 
Magnus College in recognizing the achievements of Willie Ruff as they 
honor him with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. The City of New 
Haven has been fortunate to be home to this composer, musician, film 
maker, recording artist, writer and teacher for over fifty years.
  Born in Sheffield, Alabama, Willie Ruff was first inspired by the 
words of legendary blues artist, W.C. Handy--the father of the blues. 
He

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came to New Haven to study at the Yale School of Music and our great 
City has never been the same. Throughout his career, he has blended 
both his passion for music and his love for teaching--bringing his own 
unique magic to performances and classrooms alike.
  For nearly five decades, Willie Ruff and his collaborator and 
pianist, Dwike Mitchell, have enchanted audiences across the globe with 
the sweet tones of his French horn and bass. The duo has accomplished 
much in their time together, perhaps most notably for introducing jazz 
to both the Soviet Union and China. Perhaps even more impressive is 
that Mr. Ruff mastered Russian and Chinese--his seventh and eighth 
languages--so that he could bring the international language of music 
to them in their own tongues.
  In addition to his outstanding achievements as a musician, Mr. Ruff 
has been a professor of music and Afro-American studies at Yale 
University for over thirty years. As the founder of the Duke Ellington 
Fellowship, he is also credited with bringing legendary jazz musicians 
to New Haven to teach at Yale and in the city's public schools. His 
work in establishing this unique program has brought the likes of Duke 
Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Pearl Bailey, Charlie Mingus and Ahmad 
Jamal among others, to perform for more than 150,000 city 
schoolchildren--providing an extraordinary opportunity for children who 
would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience such wonderful 
artistry.
  I have often spoke of my firm belief in the importance of educating 
our young people in the arts in any medium. Over the course of his 
career, whether through his inspirational melodies or his dedication to 
teaching, Willie Ruff's generosity and commitment has touched the lives 
of thousands--making a real difference in their lives. I am honored to 
join with Albertus Magnus College as they bestow upon him an honorary 
Doctorate of Humane Letters in recognition of his many contributions to 
our community.

                          ____________________