| PRINTER'S NO. 860 |
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. | 103 | Session of 2013 |
INTRODUCED BY PARKER, CALTAGIRONE, V. BROWN, P. DALEY, ROZZI, K. BOYLE, HENNESSEY, MICOZZIE, COHEN, D. COSTA, KORTZ, MILLARD, PASHINSKI, YOUNGBLOOD, BROWNLEE, KIRKLAND, GINGRICH, MCCARTER, READSHAW, DAVIDSON, QUINN, FABRIZIO AND MURT, FEBRUARY 25, 2013
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, FEBRUARY 25, 2013
A RESOLUTION
1Honoring the life and career of Joseph "Butter" Tamburro, WDAS
2radio personality, civil rights leader and Philadelphia icon,
3and extending condolences to his family.
4WHEREAS, Joseph "Butter" Tamburro, a husband, father,
5grandfather, friend and icon passed away on July 27, 2012, at 70
6years of age; and
7WHEREAS, Mr. Tamburro, an Italian American from South
8Philadelphia, was born in 1942; and
9WHEREAS, Mr. Tamburro began his career as an advertising
10salesman with WDAS radio in 1964 after a brief stint as an auto
11mechanic; and
12WHEREAS, Mr. Tamburro was given the nickname "Butterball" by
13WDAS Program Director Jimmy Bishop, but became more commonly
14known as "Butter"; and
15WHEREAS, An avid radio listener and admirer of rhythm and
16blues, "Butter" quickly realized his dream and became a part-
1time disc jockey at WDAS, where he hosted the first oldies show
2on African-American radio; and
3WHEREAS, Mr. Tamburro served as the Program Director at WDAS
4for more than 30 years; and
5WHEREAS, "Butter" was well-known for the dance parties he
6hosted at various venues in Philadelphia; and
7WHEREAS, Throughout Mr. Tamburro's career, he received
8several awards and honors from entities like the March of Dimes,
9the Philadelphia Music Alliance, the National Association for
10the Advancement of Colored People, the Black Music Association
11and trade publications such as R&R, Billboard Monitor, Black
12Radio Exclusive and Gavin Magazine; and
13WHEREAS, Mr. Tamburro was also renowned for his involvement
14in the Civil Rights Movement; and
15WHEREAS, He helped spread the message of equality by offering
16the airwaves to civil rights leaders such as the Reverend Martin
17Luther King, Jr., and Attorney Cecil B. Moore; therefore be it
18RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives express its
19sadness upon the passing of Joseph "Butter" Tamburro and offer
20its most sincere condolences to his family and friends; and be
21it further
22RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
23the family of Joseph "Butter" Tamburro.