[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 29, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E316-E317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING LOS ANGELES JAZZ ICON BARBARA MORRISON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KAREN BASS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 29, 2022

  Ms. BASS. Madam Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the life and 
legacy of jazz and blues artist Barbara Morrison, founder of the 
California Jazz and Blues Museum in Leimert Park.

[[Page E317]]

  At age 10, Barbara recorded her first radio performance, and moved to 
Los Angeles in the early 1970s at the age of 21. During her historic 
career she released numerous albums and performed alongside legendary 
musicians like Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, Etta James, Tony Bennett, 
Nancy Wilson, and Dr. John. A three-time GRAMMY nominee, Barbara's wide 
vocal range and her soulful interpretations of jazz and blues classics 
resonated deeply with audiences across the globe.
  Over her six-decade career, Barbara dedicated her life to her music 
and her community. In 2009, she founded the Barbara Morrison Performing 
Arts Center in Leimert Park, a hub of African American arts and culture 
in my district. There she provided music lovers with the opportunity to 
hear live jazz, blues, and soul music from musicians around the world. 
Two years later, she created the California Jazz & Blues Museum in the 
same location.
  Barbara also nurtured new talent and fostered a love of music in 
young people, including with nocost music and voice lessons for 
children. The Center and the Museum offer gathering places where lovers 
can come together, collaborate and learn.
  Committed to teaching, Barbara's work extended to academia. She 
served as an adjunct associate professor of global jazz studies at the 
Herb Alpert School of Music at the University of California, Los 
Angeles. As a UCLA professor and as a music teacher in Leimert Park, 
Barbara's joy for music brought generations together. Barbara led with 
compassion and grace, and used music to heal and uplift her community. 
In celebration of April as International Jazz Month, the Center plans 
to honor Barbara Morrison's music, spirit, and significant 
contributions to the City's artistic history and its future. I'm proud 
to know that her legacy will live on.

                          ____________________