[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 47 (Tuesday, April 6, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S3789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      COMMEMORATING HENRY MANCINI

 Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, it is my pleasure to honor 
Henry Mancini, a fine composer, conductor, and arranger. Mr. Mancini 
was one of the most versatile musical talents and one of America's most 
celebrated musicians of the twentieth century. He lent his talents to 
many films and television series, the themes and melodies of which are 
recognizable to listeners the world over, even if they are unfamiliar 
with the name of the composer.
  April 16 would have been Henry Mancini's 80th birthday. Even though 
Mr. Mancini passed away in 1994 after a long battle with cancer, his 
contribution to music and the arts has not been forgotten.
  The United States Postal Service will unveil the Henry Mancini 
commemorative stamp next week. The unveiling ceremony on April 13 will 
take place at the Music Center Plaza in Los Angeles and will be hosted 
by our distinguished former colleague, John Glenn, a longtime friend of 
Mancini. Senator Glenn, it might be added, took a recording of 
Mancini's timeless classic, ``Moon River,'' on his return to space in 
October 1998.
  In his lifetime, Henry Mancini's masterful talents were recognized 
with 72 Grammy Award nominations and 20 Grammy wins, eighteen Academy 
Award nominations and four Oscar wins, and a Golden Globe.
  While awards are a notable measure of talent, the scope of Mr. 
Mancini's work is more impressive than the nominations he received for 
that work. During the 1950s, Mr. Mancini had a hand in the scores of 
over 100 films produced by Universal-International Studios. It was also 
at Universal that Mr. Mancini met Blake Edwards, and together they 
worked on 26 films over 30 years. These collaborations produced some of 
Mancini's most popular and award-winning compositions, including the 
``Peter Gunn'' television series, ``Breakfast at Tiffany's,'' ``The 
Pink Panther'' films, and ``Victor/Victoria.''
  In all, over 500 of Mr. Mancini's works were published. Mr. Mancini 
recorded over 90 albums with styles from jazz to classical, including 
eight albums certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of 
America. As an in-demand concert performer, he logged over 600 symphony 
performances, and conducted such symphony orchestras as the London 
Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic, the Los Angeles 
Philharmonic, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
  Andy Williams said at Mancini's 70th birthday celebration: ``The 
wonders of Henry Mancini will be heard in every corner of the world 
right up to the minute this planet cools and shrinks to the size of an 
eighth note.'' But it is more than the music he composed that will be 
Henry Mancini's legacy.
  In honor of Mancini's dedication to educating young musicians, the 
Henry Mancini Institute was founded in Los Angeles in 1997 by his 
longtime friend and fellow composer, Jack Elliott. The Henry Mancini 
Institute's mission is to nurture the future of music by providing 
comprehensive professional training and multilevel outreach programs 
that make a direct impact in people's lives. Mr. Mancini himself 
established scholarships and fellowships at the Nation's top music 
schools. Many of tomorrow's composers, conductors, and arrangers have 
benefited from Mancini programs at New York's Julliard School of Music 
his alma mater, and in Los Angeles at USC and UCLA.
  I would also like to recognize the Mancini family, who has gracefully 
embraced Henry's legacy and allowed for future generations of musicians 
to celebrate his accomplishments and contributions. My good friend 
Ginny Mancini, whom he married in 1947, has relentlessly worked to 
bring about the creation of this stamp, as have their children: 
Christopher, Monica, and Felice.
  Honoring Henry Mancini with this commemorative stamp will serve as a 
lasting tribute, just as his music is a lasting gift to the 
world.

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