[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 120 (Wednesday, September 29, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7806-H7808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING LIFE AND WORK OF DUKE ELLINGTON

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 501) honoring the life and work of 
Duke Ellington, recognizing the 30th anniversary of the Duke Ellington 
School of the Arts, and supporting the annual Duke Ellington Jazz 
Festival.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 501

       Whereas jazz music is America's classical music and is an 
     art form that is indigenous to the United States;
       Whereas the influence of jazz has spread across the world 
     and jazz truly incorporates and transcends differences of 
     nationality, religion, language, culture, socioeconomic 
     status, and race;
       Whereas Edward Kennedy ``Duke'' Ellington, who was born on 
     April 29, 1899 in Washington, D.C., and died on May 24, 1974 
     in New York City, was one of the pioneers of jazz music;
       Whereas Duke Ellington formed his first band in 1917;
       Whereas over the course of his 50-year musical career, Duke 
     Ellington took jazz to the farthest corners of the world, 
     performing in Europe, the Soviet Union, Japan, and Australia 
     during the 1960's on diplomatic tours sponsored by the 
     Department of State;
       Whereas among his numerous other public honors, Duke 
     Ellington was appointed to the National Council on the Arts 
     in 1968, received the President's Gold Medal in 1966 from 
     President Lyndon Johnson, and was awarded the Presidential 
     Medal of Freedom, the highest honor a civilian can receive in 
     the United States, in 1969;
       Whereas Duke Ellington has also received many awards and 
     honors from private entities, including 13 GRAMMY Awards from 
     the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences over 40 
     years, the Pied Piper Award from the American Society of 
     Composers, Authors, and Publishers in 1968, and honorary 
     doctoral degrees from 16 institutions;
       Whereas after the death of Duke Ellington, Western High 
     School in Washington, D.C., was renamed the Duke Ellington 
     School of the Arts and is celebrating its 30th anniversary 
     this year;
       Whereas the House of Representatives has declared that jazz 
     is a rare and valuable national treasure that deserves 
     attention, support, and resources to ensure that it is 
     preserved, understood, and promulgated;
       Whereas Washington, D.C., does not currently host its own 
     jazz festival;
       Whereas Charles Fishman, who was Dizzy Gillespie's personal 
     manager and producer until his death and is highly regarded 
     in the jazz world, has established the Duke Ellington Jazz 
     Festival, a non-profit organization which will produce an 
     annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival in Washington, D.C., 
     beginning in 2005;
       Whereas Duke Ellington Jazz Festival will consist of events 
     across Washington, D.C., over a number of days, most of which 
     will be free of charge, and will culminate in 2 days of 
     concerts on the National Mall;
       Whereas the rich musical legacy, international character, 
     and diverse community of Washington, D.C. make it the ideal 
     city to host a world-class international jazz festival; and

[[Page H7807]]

       Whereas the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival will soon become 
     known as one of the leading jazz festivals in the world, 
     showcasing the best in jazz music in the shadow of the United 
     States Capitol: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That Congress--
       (1) honors the life and work of Duke Ellington and his 
     immortal contributions to American and world music;
       (2) recognizes the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in 
     Washington, D.C., on the occasion of its 30th anniversary; 
     and
       (3) supports the annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival to be 
     held in Washington, D.C., beginning in 2005.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Burns) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Burns).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Con. Res. 501.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 501 
offered by the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) 
which honors the life and work of Duke Ellington, recognizes the 30th 
anniversary of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and supports the 
annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival.
  Edward Kennedy ``Duke'' Ellington was born on April 29, 1899 in 
Washington, D.C., and formed his first band in 1917. Over the course of 
his 50-year musical career, Duke Ellington pioneered jazz music and 
took it to the farthest corners of the world, performing diplomatic 
tours in Europe, the Soviet Union, Japan and Australia.
  Among his numerous other public honors, Duke Ellington was appointed 
to the National Council of the Arts in 1968, received the President's 
Gold Medal in 1966 from President Lyndon Johnson, and was awarded the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor a civilian can receive 
in the United States, in 1969 from President Nixon.
  During his distinguished career, Duke Ellington received many awards 
and honors from private entities, including 13 Grammy Awards from the 
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Pied Piper Award 
from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, and 
honorary doctoral degrees from 16 different institutions.
  Sadly, Duke Ellington died on May 24, 1974 in New York City. After 
his death, Western High School in Washington, D.C. was renamed the Duke 
Ellington School of the Arts, home of the famous Hexagon Theater.
  This school seeks to meet the needs of talented students who are 
considering careers in the arts by providing intensive arts instruction 
through arts programs of the highest quality, and strong academic 
programs that help each student meet the intellectual and artistic 
challenges of their future.
  Unfortunately, Washington, D.C. does not currently host its own jazz 
festival. However, Charles Fishman, who was Dizzy Gillespie's personal 
manager and producer until his death, and is highly regarded in the 
jazz world, has established the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, a 
nonprofit organization which will produce an annual Duke Ellington Jazz 
Festival in Washington, D.C. beginning in 2005.
  Because of the District of Columbia's rich musical legacy, 
international character, and diverse community, it is an ideal city to 
host a world-class international jazz festival.
  House Concurrent Resolution 501 does three things. First, it honors 
the life and work of Duke Ellington and his immortal contributions to 
American and world music. Second, it recognizes the Duke Ellington 
School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. on the occasion of its 30th 
anniversary. Finally, this resolution supports the annual Duke 
Ellington Jazz Festival to be held in Washington, D.C. beginning in 
2005.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Duke Ellington has been called the ``quintessential 
American composer'' and is one of the greats of world music history. He 
brought a great deal of refinement and elegance to jazz.
  His first piano lessons began around the age of 7, but it took seeing 
a few great live performances to cement his commitment to music. The 
Duke found piano playing jobs at clubs and cafes throughout the 
Washington, D.C. area. In late 1917, he formed his first group. By the 
late 1920s, his band became the most sought after band in the United 
States. Duke Ellington and his band played everywhere from New York to 
New Delhi, Chicago to Cairo, Los Angeles to London. Duke Ellington and 
his band played with Miles Davis, Cab Calloway, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella 
Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and Louis Armstrong, and entertained everyone 
from queens to Presidents.
  Thirty years ago, Washington, D.C. honored the Duke by renaming a 
high school the Duke Ellington School of Arts. I am pleased that today 
we will again honor the Duke by passing this resolution which came to 
us through the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) 
who knows good music when she hears it. This resolution commemorates 
Duke Ellington's life and work, and supports the annual Duke Ellington 
Jazz Festival on the mall.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this 
time, and also for her help on this bill. I thank the gentleman from 
Georgia who is managing the bill for his excellent statement and for 
bringing the bill forward.
  I also would like to begin by thanking my good friends who have taken 
a special interest in this bill, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Conyers) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), as well as 
the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Boehner) and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. George Miller), the ranking member, for scheduling this 
resolution.
  I rise today to honor the 30th anniversary of the Duke Ellington High 
School named for the legendary composer and musician, the great Duke 
Ellington, a native son of the District of Columbia. The genius and 
artistry of Duke Ellington and his fabulous 50-year career are 
universally recognized. Many of today's musicians, from a variety of 
genres, but most especially jazz, look to Ellington as the world-class 
leader of the American classic, jazz.
  I am pleased to recognize his achievements during the 30th year 
anniversary of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, a nationally 
acclaimed high school that trains talented area students in a variety 
of arts such as dance, theater, instrumental music and the visual arts. 
The Duke Ellington School of the Arts operates in the tradition of 
Ellington excellence. It has a partnership with the John F. Kennedy 
Center for the Performing Arts and offers a college preparatory 
curriculum with advanced placement courses and professional artistic 
training. Students perform and work at professional-quality levels. Its 
graduates, such as the famous soprano, Denise Graves, have carried the 
Ellington tradition proudly into the arts. The work of students and 
graduates alike have shown that the high school is worthy of the 
Ellington name.
  Duke Ellington was much celebrated during his glittering career. He 
was a recipient of the President's Gold Medal in 1966 and of the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969. He won 13 Grammy awards and 
numerous honors from organization all over the world. His music gave 
rise to the famed Cotton Club, which showcased jazz talent from Sarah 
Vaughn to Ella Fitzgerald to Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong.
  The popularity of jazz music that he helped spread spawned the 
creation of Blue Note Records, the influential jazz recording label 
which is marking its 65th anniversary this year. Music critics have 
been writing about jazz in the

[[Page H7808]]

equally important Downbeat Magazine which is celebrating its 70th 
anniversary.
  Jazz is our much-celebrated unique American treasure, and Ellington 
was the leader of the band. We are particularly pleased to recognize 
the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival which will begin next fall. It will 
feature a number of artistic events culminating in 2 days of concerts 
on the National Mall. It is especially fitting this festival will take 
place here in the Nation's Capital, Duke Ellington's birthplace and the 
city that nurtured his talent on the 30th anniversary of the 
extraordinary high school named for the Duke.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for and support H. Con. 
Res. 501.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) 
and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for 
bringing H. Con. Res. 501 to the floor today. I urge my colleagues to 
support this measure. All of us have been impacted by the life and work 
of Duke Ellington.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, he has been called the 
``quintessential American composer'' and considered to be one of 
``great musicians along with Bach and Beethoven and Shoenberg.'' Duke 
Ellington brought a level of refinement and elegance to jazz.
  The Duke's first piano lessons began around the age of seven--but 
like many youngsters--he was more interested in going to the Washington 
Senators baseball games than practicing. It took seeing a few great 
live performances, even sneaking out of school to seek out and listen 
to ragtime pianists in Washington and, during the summers, in 
Philadelphia or Atlantic City, where he and his mother vacationed. Duke 
was taken under the wings of Oliver ``Doc'' Perry and Louis Brown, who 
taught Duke how to read music and helped improve his overall piano 
playing skills. Duke found piano playing jobs at clubs and cafes 
throughout the Washington area.
  In late 1917, Duke formed his first group: The Duke's Serenaders, 
which years later was renamed as The Washingtonians. By the late 1920s, 
Duke's band became the most sought-after band in the United States and 
even throughout the world. Duke Ellington and his band went on to play 
everywhere from New York to New Delhi, Chicago to Cairo, and Los 
Angeles to London. Ellington and his band played with such greats as 
Miles Davis, Cab Calloway, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony 
Bennett and Louis Armstrong. They entertained everyone from Queen 
Elizabeth II to President Nixon.
  Duke Ellington did not just make an impact on music to the world, but 
he made his hometown of Washington, DC, proud. Thirty years ago 
Washington, DC, honored him by renaming one high school the Duke 
Ellington School of the Arts. It only makes sense that in 2005, 
Washington, DC, will be able to honor The Duke of Jazz once again by 
hosting 2 days of concerts on the National Mall each year as the Duke 
Ellington Jazz Festival.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Burns) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 501.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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