[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 108 (Thursday, August 1, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S7964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 316--A BILL DESIGNATING THE YEAR BEGINNING FEBRUARY 
                 1, 2003, AS THE ``YEAR OF THE BLUES''

  Mrs. LINCOLN (for herself, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Thompson, and Mr. Frist) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 316

       Whereas blues music is the most influential form of 
     American roots music, with its impact heard around the world 
     in rock and roll, jazz, rhythm and blues, country, and even 
     classical music;
       Whereas the blues is a national historic treasure, which 
     needs to be preserved, studied, and documented for future 
     generations;
       Whereas the blues is an important documentation of African-
     American culture in the twentieth century;
       Whereas the various forms of the blues document twentieth-
     century American history during the Great Depression and in 
     the areas of race relations, pop culture, and the migration 
     of the United States from a rural, agricultural society to an 
     urban, industrialized Nation;
       Whereas the blues is the most celebrated form of American 
     roots music, with hundreds of festivals held and millions of 
     new or reissued blues albums released each year in the United 
     States;
       Whereas the blues and blues musicians from the United 
     States, whether old or new, male or female, are recognized 
     and revered worldwide as unique and important ambassadors of 
     the United States and its music;
       Whereas it is important to educate the young people of the 
     United States to understand that the music that they listen 
     to today has its roots and traditions in the blues;
       Whereas there are many living legends of the blues in the 
     United States who need to be recognized and to have their 
     story captured and preserved for future generations; and
       Whereas the year 2003 is the centennial anniversary of when 
     W.C. Handy, a classically-trained musician, heard the blues 
     for the first time, in a train station in Mississippi, thus 
     enabling him to compose the first blues music to distribute 
     throughout the United States, which led to him being named 
     ``Father of the Blues'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the year beginning February 1, 2003, as the 
     ``Year of the Blues''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States to observe the 
     ``Year of the Blues'' with appropriate ceremonies, 
     activities, and educational programs.

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