PRINTER'S NO. 1467
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
248
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY WHEATLEY, GAINEY, HARKINS, KIM, KINSEY, FREEMAN,
HENNESSEY, LONGIETTI, JAMES, R. BROWN, DiGIROLAMO, V. BROWN,
MURT, CALTAGIRONE, MACKENZIE, NEILSON, SOLOMON, WARD,
BIZZARRO, SONNEY, DUSH, MILLARD AND PASHINSKI, APRIL 18, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 18, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the month of April 2017 as "National Jazz Month" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz music; and
WHEREAS, The history of jazz music is inextricably linked
with the history of African-American culture in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, Jazz has been called America's only true indigenous
art form; and
WHEREAS, Many musicians traveled north from New Orleans
during the First World War and brought the distinctive style of
jazz to Chicago, Washington, New York, Pittsburgh and
Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Langston Hughes, alumnus of Lincoln University,
extolled the virtues of jazz music in his famous poem, "Trumpet
Player: 52nd Street"; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh made significant
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contributions to jazz music in the early 20th century; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia's South Street was home to the African-
American owned Standard and Dunbar theaters, both of which
hosted incredible performances by famous jazz musicians Bessie
Smith, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong; and
WHEREAS, Both Kenny Clark of Pittsburgh and John Coltrane of
Philadelphia helped shape the evolution of jazz music in America
and made significant contributions to the Bebop revolution; and
WHEREAS, Jazz music is uniquely American and represents one
of our nation's proudest cultural contributions to the world;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
month of April 2017 as "National Jazz Month" in Pennsylvania.
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