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."
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