PRINTER'S NO. 3531
No. 687 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY WHEATLEY, BELFANTI, BEYER, BISHOP, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, CREIGHTON, DALEY, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, D. EVANS, FRANKEL, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GRUCELA, HARKINS, HERSHEY, JAMES, MAJOR, MANN, MANTZ, MARKOSEK, McCALL, McGEEHAN, MILLARD, MUSTIO, MYERS, OLIVER, PALLONE, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, RAMALEY, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, SWANGER, THOMAS, VULAKOVICH, WALKO, WOJNAROSKI, STURLA, J. WHITE, SANTONI, KULA, KORTZ AND COHEN, APRIL 2, 2008
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 2, 2008
A RESOLUTION 1 Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the African American Jazz 2 Preservation Society of Pittsburgh Local No. 471 in honor of 3 "Jazz Appreciation Month." 4 WHEREAS, The mission of the African American Jazz 5 Preservation Society of Pittsburgh (AAJPSP) is to preserve, 6 disseminate and promote the history, accomplishments and talents 7 of the African-American jazz experience through programs and 8 services that distinguish the African-American musical community 9 as a valuable cultural, educational and social asset of the 10 Pittsburgh region; and 11 WHEREAS, AAJPSP is an outgrowth of the realization that a 12 great deal of the rich cultural contributions made in the field 13 of jazz originated from musicians who were born and raised in 14 Pittsburgh, particularly the Hill District; and
1 WHEREAS, There are many gaps in the gathering and 2 dissemination of information relative to the history of jazz in 3 Pittsburgh, more specifically, its founders, contributors and 4 their subsequent social and artistic influence to the world 5 which have significant ties to the Pittsburgh region; and 6 WHEREAS, AAJPSP began operations with the support of the 7 National Conference for Community and Justice and the University 8 of Pittsburgh School of Social Work in September 1996; and 9 WHEREAS, AAJPSP prioritized recapturing the lost legacy of 10 the African American Musicians Union Local No. 471 through 11 conducting oral history interviews and by obtaining historical 12 documentation, photographs and artifacts; and 13 WHEREAS, Approximately 100 musicians have been interviewed, 14 and artifacts dating back to the early 1900s, such as union 15 membership cards and records, photographs and club bills, have 16 been collected; and 17 WHEREAS, Most items are housed in the University of 18 Pittsburgh, University Library System Archives Service Center; 19 and 20 WHEREAS, In honor of the 100th anniversary, a special Jazz 21 Weekend will take place on April 4 and 5, 2008, which will 22 include a film screening and musical performance by several 23 longtime members of Local No. 471 and students; therefore be it 24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commemorate the 25 100th anniversary of the founding of the African American Jazz 26 Preservation Society of Pittsburgh Local No. 471, highlighting 27 the artistry and contributions of the recognized and 28 unrecognized African-American musicians who help make Pittsburgh 29 the crossroads of the world in honor of "Jazz Appreciation 30 Month." C31L82JS/20080H0687R3531 - 2 -