IV

107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 363

Extending birthday greetings and best wishes to Lionel Hampton on the

occasion of his 94th birthday.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 20, 2002

Mr. CONYERS (for himself, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. MCCARTHY of Missouri, Mr.

ABERCROMBIE, and Mr. HYDE) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Extending birthday greetings and best wishes to Lionel

Hampton on the occasion of his 94th birthday.

Whereas Lionel Hampton is regarded internationally as one

of the greatest jazz musicians of all time and has shared

his talents with the world for more than 8 decades;

Whereas Lionel Hampton has consistently exemplified acceptance, tolerance, and the celebration of racial and cultural

diversity, by being one of the first black musicians to perform in venues and events previously open only to white

performers, including performances with the Benny

Goodman Quartet from 1936–1940, and as the first

black musician to perform for a presidential inauguration, that of Harry S. Truman in 1949;
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•HCON 363 IH

Whereas Lionel Hampton has furthered the cause of cultural

understanding and international communication, receiving a Papal Medallion from Pope Pius XII, the Israel

Statehood Award, serving as a Goodwill Ambassador for

the United States, and receiving the Honor Cross for

Science and the Arts, First Class, one of Austria’s highest decorations;

Whereas Lionel Hampton is one of the most recorded artists

in the history of jazz;

Whereas Lionel Hampton has opened doors for aspiring musicians throughout the world, many of whom have established themselves as giants in the world of jazz, including

Cat Anderson, Terrance Blanchard, Clifford Brown,

Conte Candoli, Pete Candoli, Betty Carter, Ray Charles,

Nat ‘‘King’’ Cole, Bing Crosby, Art Farmer, Carl Fontana, Aretha Franklin, Benny Golson, Al Grey, Slide

Hampton, Joe Henderson, Quincy Jones, Bradford

Marsalis, Wes Montgomery, James Moody, Fats Navarro,

Joe Newman, Nicholas Payton, Benny Powell, Buddy

Tate, Clark Terry, Stanley Turrentine, Dinah Washington, and Joe Williams, among others;

Whereas Lionel Hampton has worked to perpetuate the art

form of jazz by offering his talent, inspiration, and production acumen to the University of Idaho since 1983,

and in 1985, when the University of Idaho named its

school of music after him, Lionel Hampton became first

jazz musician to have both a music school and a jazz festival named in his honor;

Whereas Lionel Hampton has received many national accolades, awards, and commemorations, including an American Jazz Masters Fellowship from the National Endow-
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ment for the Arts, Kennedy Center Honors, and a National Medal of Arts;

Whereas Lionel Hampton has received numerous awards and

commendations by local and State governments and has

received acknowledgement from hundreds of civic and

performance groups;

Whereas Lionel Hampton’s legacy of inspiration, education,

and excellence will be perpetuated by the development of

the Lionel Hampton Center at the University of Idaho,

a facility that combines the finest in performance, scholarship, and research; and

Whereas Lionel Hampton has made a difference in many

lives by inspiring so many who have now become jazz

greats, by reinforcing the importance of education at all

levels, and by showing the world a way of life where love

and talent are shared without reservation: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress, on behalf of the American

3 people, extends its birthday greetings and best wishes to

4 Lionel Hampton on the occasion of his 94th birthday.

Æ