[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 95 (Monday, July 12, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H5475-H5476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT DINAH WASHINGTON BE RECOGNIZED AS ONE 
    OF THE MOST TALENTED VOCALISTS IN AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC HISTORY

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 144) expressing the sense of 
Congress that Dinah Washington should be recognized for her 
achievements as one of the most talented vocalists in American popular 
music history.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 144

       Whereas Dinah Washington was born in August 1924;
       Whereas Dinah Washington was a singer and performer whose 
     early influence and focus was gospel music and spirituals, 
     and who first toured the Nation to perform in 1940;
       Whereas Dinah Washington was hired to sing with Lionel 
     Hampton's big band in 1943, and through this exposure gained 
     her first recording contract;
       Whereas Dinah Washington was recording with jazz stars and 
     leaders in the industry by 1948, and was a full-fledged pop 
     music star by the late 1950s after recording the ballad, 
     ``What a Difference a Day Makes'';
       Whereas Dinah Washington recorded in jazz, blues, rhythm 
     and blues, and pop, and was considered a preeminent figure 
     and enormously gifted vocalist in each; and
       Whereas Dinah Washington died on December 14, 1963, after 
     dominating the charts in the late 1940s and 1950s, and by 
     today's measures would have been considered a tremendous 
     crossover superstar: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that Dinah 
     Washington should be recognized for her versatility, 
     remarkable musical talent, and for influence on female 
     vocalists in jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, pop, and gospel.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
H. Con. Res. 144.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 144.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 144, which expresses the 
sense of Congress that Dinah Washington should be recognized for her 
achievements as one of the most talented vocalists in American popular 
music history.
  Born in 1924, Dinah Washington was a singer and performer whose early 
influence and focus was gospel music and spirituals. She began touring 
the country in 1940, was hired to sing with Lionel Hampton's big band, 
and signed her first recording contract in 1943.
  Dinah Washington was recording with jazz stars and leaders in the 
industry by 1948 and was a full-fledged pop music star by the late 
1950s after recording the ballad ``What a Difference a Day Makes.''
  Throughout her career, Dinah Washington recorded in jazz, blues, 
rhythm and blues, and pop and was considered a preeminent figure and an 
enormously gifted vocalist in each genre. After dominating the charts 
in the late 1940s and 1950s, Dinah Washington died on December 14, 
1963. By today's measure, she would have been considered a tremendous 
crossover superstar.
  House Concurrent Resolution 144 is simple and straightforward. It 
expresses the sense of Congress that Dinah Washington should be 
recognized for her versatility, remarkable music talent, and for 
influence on female vocalists in jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, pop, 
and gospel. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) for 
his introduction of this resolution, and I rise in support of H. Con. 
Res. 144, which recognizes the tremendous talent and accomplishments of 
Dinah Washington.
  I have always been told that music is universal and everlasting. 
Therefore, Ms. Washington's impact on music can be felt and seen even 
among today's contemporary talents. While Dinah Washington was born in 
the 1920s, her true impact on music began in the late 1940s and 1950s.
  Ms. Washington's early focus was on gospel music and spirituals, yet 
she did not believe in mixing the secular and spiritual. And once she 
entered the nonreligious music world professionally, she refused to 
include gospel in her repertoire. She became a full-fledged pop music 
star by the late 1950s, giving her the title of the Most Popular Black 
Female Recording Artist at that time.
  She was noted as one of the most versatile and gifted vocalists in 
American popular music history. Ms. Washington's talent lent itself to 
making recordings in jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, and pop.
  Despite her passing in December of 1963, her music continues to 
influence artists today. In 1993, her memory and influence on music 
became forever as we remember she was inducted into the

[[Page H5476]]

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her face became a symbol of soul as her 
voice does in her music, as she is portrayed in one of the black 
history commemorative stamps.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to urge Members to support this 
resolution. I remember some of the titles of songs, ``What a Difference 
a Day Makes,'' ``Just 24 Little Hours,'' ``My Yesterday Was Blue But 
Today I'm a Part of You''; and forever in the annals of music history 
will Dinah Washington be a part of us. What a difference a day makes 
and what a difference she made.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 144.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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