[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SALUTING HARLEM'S OWN CROWN JEWELS--LILLIAN ``DIAMOND LIL'' PIERCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 19, 2009

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to salute and congratulate my 
dear friend, Lillian ``Diamond Lil'' Pierce as an ensemble of Harlem 
Legendary entertainers gathers to perform a special tribute at the 
famous Alhambra Ballroom on Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard.
  Affectionately known in Harlem as ``Diamond Lil,'' she was born in 
Cameron, North Carolina, and graduated from Pinckney High School in 
Carthage, North Carolina. Lil came to New York in 1958 and enrolled at 
City College. She later worked at the New York State Department of 
Motor Vehicles followed by a brief stint at a bar on Broadway, which 
proved to be a solid stepping stone to her becoming a co-owner of 
Carl's Off the Corner in West Harlem. But it was ``Diamond Lil's'' 21-
year tenure at Showman's Cafe where she established her reputation and 
earned the appreciation of countless customers and musicians.
  During her many years as a barmaid at Showman's, Lil heard and 
entertained a veritable Hall of Fame of Jazz and popular musicians, and 
Showman's Elite personalities. Showman's, originally located next to 
the World Famous Apollo Theatre over the years has been the home club 
of choice and hangout for many of Harlem's renowned entrepreneurs and 
personalities. Since 1942, Showman's Jazz Cafe has showcased top 
musicians for Harlem and International audiences, as Mona, Co-owner and 
retired Son of Sam New York City Police Detective Al Howard, and our 
Crown Jewel ``Diamond Lil'' refers to as ``family.''
  Madam Speaker, the Friends of Showman's roster include luminaries and 
entertainers like Count Basie, Billy Eckstine, Sammy Davis, Jr., 
Charles Honi Coles, Leroy Myers, Gregory Hines, Pop Brown, Nat Davis 
and Savion Glover. Personalities like Jesse Walker, Joe Yancy and Jimmy 
Booker. Performers like Bill Doggett, George Benson, Seleno Clarke, 
Irene Reid, Jimmy ``Preacher'' Robins, Gloria Lynne, Joey Morant, Akiko 
Tsuruga, Grady Tate, Frank Dell, Bill Saxton, Annette St. John, Wolf 
Johnson, Pat Tandy and the Prince of Harlem Lonnie Youngblood. Among 
the elected officials who graced her bar and thrilled to her service 
were Governor David Paterson, Assembly Members Denny Farrell and Keith 
Wright, State Senator Bill Perkins, Councilmember Inez Dickens, former 
Borough President C. Virginia Fields, my brother and former Mayor, 
David N. Dinkins, and me.
  Yes, diamonds are forever and so is our extraordinarily precious 
Lillian ``Diamond Lil'' Pierce.

                          ____________________