[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10] [House] [Pages 13367-13368] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING THE LIFE OF LOUIS JORDAN ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1242) honoring the life, musical accomplishments, and contributions of Louis Jordan on the 100th anniversary of his birth. The Clerk read the title of the resolution. The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 1242 Whereas Louis Thomas Jordan was born July 8, 1908, in Brinkley, Arkansas; Whereas he studied music as a young child under his father James Aaron Jordan, who was the bandleader of the Brinkley Brass Band; Whereas in the late 1920s he attended Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock, Arkansas, and majored in music; Whereas he joined Chick Webb's Savoy Ballroom band in 1936 in New York where he played saxophone and performed occasionally as a singer; Whereas in 1938 he started his own band, the Elks Rendez- Vous Band, and in 1939 he changed the name of the group to the Tympany Five; Whereas his prolific musical career consists of 54 hit singles including, ``Five Guys Named Moe'', ``Let the Good Times Roll'', ``Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin' '', and ``Barnyard Boogie'', and 18 number 1 hits on Billboard's R&B chart including ``Beans and Cornbread'', ``Run Joe'', ``Ain't That Just Like A Woman'', ``Blue Light Boogie'', and the 1946 hit ``Choo Choo Ch'Boogie'', which topped the Billboard's R&B chart for 18 weeks; Whereas 15 of his hits made it onto the Pop charts, including ``Baby It's Cold Outside'', ``Caldonia'', ``Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby'', ``Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens'', ``Buzz Me'', and ``Beware''; Whereas he actively recorded for the Armed Forces Radio Service and the V-Disc program during World War II, and one of the his songs recorded during this period, ``G.I. Jive'', was number 1 on the Pop chart for 2 weeks; Whereas he was featured in a variety of short musical films in the 1940s, such as the 1945 short film ``Caldonia'', and played cameo roles in movies like ``Follow the Boys'' and ``Swing Parade of 1946''; Whereas his 1949 recording of ``Saturday Night Fish Fry'' was one of the earliest musical examples of what would later become known as ``Rock and Roll''; Whereas he died on February 4, 1975, in Los Angeles, California; Whereas a host of prominent musicians including Chuck Berry, Bo Didley, B.B. King, Ray Charles, James Brown, and Sonny Rollins have counted him as an influence; Whereas he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1987; Whereas in 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine named him one of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time; and Whereas Louis Jordan will be highlighted on a United States Postal Service stamp, as part of the 2008 commemorative stamp program: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives-- (1) honors the life of Louis Jordan, on the 100th anniversary of his birth; and (2) recognizes his important contributions to American music as a musician, composer, and entertainer. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland. General Leave Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 1242 into the Record. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Maryland? There was no objection. Mr. SARBANES. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1242, which honors the life and recognizes the importance of Louis Jordan and his contributions to America as a musician, composer and entertainer. July 8, 2008 will be Louis Jordan's 100th birthday, the celebration of his 100th birthday. And in celebration of this day, we should recognize Jordan's contributions to this country. Louis Jordan, born in 1908, is a Brinkley, Arkansas native. Under the musical tutelage of his father, who was a local band leader, music found Jordan at an early age. He expanded and mastered formal components of music through his collegial experience at Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock. Jordan majored there in music. He learned to play the saxophone, sing, and entertain audiences through his personal experiences and watching his father. Highly touted musicians, such as B.B. King, Ray Charles, James Brown, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Sonny Rollins, all pointed to Jordan as an influence on their own careers. His prolific musical success consists of 54 hit singles and 18 number one songs on Billboard's R&B charts. Two short musical films were centered around his songs. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, Jordan's contribution to his art is immeasurable. Rolling Stone Magazine named him one of the 100 greatest artists of all time. Though Jordan passed away in 1975, his legacy flourishes through the work of other artists. He helped shape rock and roll. On this day, I would like to commemorate Jordan's work. Let us recognize his contribution by honoring his 100th birthday. I urge support of this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1242, honoring the life, musical accomplishments and contributions of Louis Jordan on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Louis Thomas Jordan, vocalist, bandleader and saxophonist, ruled the charts, stage, screen and airwaves of the 1940s and profoundly influenced the creators of R&B, rock and roll, and post-World War II blues. Jordan was born July 8, 1908 in Brinkley, Arkansas. His father, James Aaron Jordan, led the Brinkley Brass Band. His mother died when he was young. Jordan studied music under his father and showed promise in horn playing, especially clarinet and saxophone. Due to World War I, there were vacancies in his father's band, so Jordan filled in. Soon he was good enough to join his father in a professional traveling show touring Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri instead of doing farm work when school closed. Jordan briefly attended Little Rock's Arkansas Baptist College in the 1920s and performed with Jimmy Pryor's Imperial Serenaders. He played saxophone and clarinet with them, as well as Bob Alexander's Harmony Kings. In the 1930s, based in Philadelphia, Jordan found work in the Charlie Gaines Band playing clarinet, and soprano and alto sax, in addition to doing vocals, which he recorded and toured with Louis Armstrong. During this time, Jordan also learned baritone sax, and he joined nationally popular drummer Chuck Webb's Savoy Ballroom Band featuring Ella Fitzgerald. Jordan created his own band, which was called Tympany Five, regardless of number of pieces. The small size of Tympany Five made it innovative structurally and musically in the Big Band era. Among the first to join electric guitar and bass with horns, Jordan set the framework for decades of future R&B and rock combos. Endless rehearsals, matching suits, dance moves, and routines built around songs made the band Jordan's singular brand of sophisticated, yet down- home, jump blues and vocals made it a success. In the 1940s, Jordan released dozens of hit songs, including the swinging ``Saturday Night Fish Fry,'' one of the earlier and most powerful contenders [[Page 13368]] for the title of ``First Rock and Roll Record,'' ``Blue Light Boogie,'' the comic classic ``Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens,'' ``Buzz Me,'' ``Ain't That Just Like a Woman,'' ``Caldonia,'' and the million-dollar seller, ``Choo Choo Ch'Boogie.'' {time} 1715 Jordan died in Los Angeles, California, in 1975. A host of prominent musicians claimed his influence, including Ray Charles, James Brown, Bo Diddley, and Chuck Berry. His songs have appeared in commercials, TV, and movies and have been recorded by dozens of popular artists. Louis Jordan leaves a musical legacy that influences popular music as we know it today. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege now to yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this bill, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder). Mr. SNYDER. Proudly today, Madam Speaker, the House of Representatives solutes another great American, acknowledging the contributions of a remarkable man to our great country. Entertainers reflect the rich history of America, and their stories, their personal stories, tell our story. No more worthy among these is Arkansas native Louis Jordan, a musician, songwriter, entertainer, and even movie performer. Nothing could stifle this remarkably talented man, not racial bigotry or upbringing a century ago in rural Arkansas. Louis Jordan was born July 8, 1908, in Brinkley, Arkansas, and in the late 1920s he attended Arkansas Baptist College where I live, in Little Rock, Arkansas, and majored in music. He became a songwriter, performer, and movie actor. He actively recorded for the Armed Forces Radio Service and the V-Disc program during World War II, and one of his songs recorded during this period, ``G.I. Jive,'' was number one on both the R&B and Pop charts. He appeared in soundies, which were short musical films in the 1940s displayed on coin-operated film jukeboxes, and played cameo roles in movies like ``Follow the Boys'' and ``Swing Parade'' of 1946. Previous speakers have acknowledged some of his remarkable accomplishments: the ``Saturday Night Fish Fry'' recording of 1949, which many say was the first rock and roll song; his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 1987; and in 2004 being named one of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time by Rolling Stone Magazine. I am pleased that the House today will pass this resolution, but in some ways we don't get the full flavor of his accomplishments and the richness of the heritage of what he did without talking specifically about these songs. Let me go through the list of hits briefly here today. His career began in the early days of World War II, some dark years for America. The 1942 hits included ``I'm Gonna Leave You on the Outskirts of Town'' and ``What's the Use of Getting Sober (When You Gonna Get Drunk Again).'' In 1943: ``The Chicks I Pick are Slender and Tender and Tall,'' ``Five Guys Named Moe,'' ``That'll Just 'Bout Knock Me Out,'' ``Ration Blues.'' In 1944: ``G.I. Jive,'' ``Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby.'' In 1945: ``Mop! Mop!,'' ``You Can't Get That No More,'' ``Caldonia,'' ``Somebody Done Changed the Lock on My Door,'' ``My Baby Said Yes.'' And then truly the remarkable year of 1946 in which he had 13 hits: ``Buzz Me''; ``Don't Worry 'Bout That Mule''; ``Salt Pork, West Virginia''; ``Reconversion Blues''; ``Beware (Brother, Beware)''; ``Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'''; ``Stone Cold Dead in the Market (He Had it Coming)''; ``Petootie Pie''; ``Choo Choo Ch'Boogie''; ``That Chick's Too Young to Fry''; ``Ain't That Just Like a Woman (They'll Do It Every Time)''; ``Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens''; ``Let the Good Times Roll.'' And then on to 1947: ``Texas and Pacific''; ``I Like 'Em Fat Like That''; ``Open the Door, Richard!''; ``Jack, You're Dead''; ``I Know What You're Puttin' Down''; ``Boogie Woogie Blue Plate''; ``Early in the Mornin'''; ``Look Out.'' In 1948: ``Barnyard Boogie''; ``How Long Must I Wait for You''; ``Reet, Petite and Gone''; ``Run Joe''; ``All for the Love of Lil''; ``Pinetop's Boogie Woogie''; ``Don't Burn the Candle at Both Ends''; ``We Can't Agree''; ``Daddy-O''; ``Pettin' and Pokin'.'' In 1949: ``Roamin' Blues''; ``You Broke Your Promise''; ``Cole Slaw (Sorghum Switch)''; ``Every Man to His Own Profession''; ``Baby, It's Cold Outside''; ``Beans and Corn Bread''; ``Saturday Night Fish Fry.'' In 1950, four hits: ``School Days, ``Blue Light Boogie,'' ``I'll Never Be Free,'' ``Tamburitza Boogie.'' And in 1951: ``Lemonade,'' ``Tear Drops from My Eyes,'' ``Weak Minded Blues.'' Those song titles from the remarkable career of hits of Louis Jordan give you a flavor for the kinds of songs, the kind of music, the richness of American heritage. This was really brought home to me when I was getting signatures to sign onto this bill, and one of the first people I talked to was one of our colleagues Congressman Steve Israel from New York, a long way from rural Arkansas, and he immediately told me--he signed on--that he had seen ``Five Guys Named Moe'' in New York three times. He started singing the songs and knew the lyrics of many of these songs, even though Louis Jordan died over 30 years ago. I appreciate the efforts by the majority and minority today to bring this bill to the floor, and today we salute a remarkable American: Louis Jordan. Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. SARBANES. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Arkansas for that wonderful history on Louis Jordan, and I want to urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1242. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1242. The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Mr. SARBANES. Madam 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. ____________________