IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 541 

Expressing support for the designation of August 22, 2019, as national 

‘‘Chuck Brown Day’’ and honoring his contributions to music and to 

the District of Columbia. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 16, 2019 

Ms. NORTON submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Oversight and Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of August 22, 2019, 

as national ‘‘Chuck Brown Day’’ and honoring his contributions to music and to the District of Columbia. 

Whereas Chuck Brown is known as the ‘‘Godfather of GoGo’’ because he was the major architect of the musical 

genre known as go-go, a unique mix of funk, soul, and 

Latin party sounds; 

Whereas Chuck Brown, who was born on August 22, 1936, 

and passed away at the age of 75 on May 16, 2012, was 

a resident of the District of Columbia most of his life; 

Whereas Chuck Brown, who taught himself to play guitar, 

became a virtuoso singer, songwriter, guitarist, and band 

leader; 


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•HRES 541 IH 

Whereas Chuck Brown’s go-go beat gave the District of Columbia a musical identity of its own and reminds the Nation that the District of Columbia has always been the 

hometown of talented artists, among them Duke Ellington and Marvin Gaye; 

Whereas Chuck Brown’s musical catalogue spans 22 studio 

albums over 3 decades; 

Whereas Chuck Brown’s hit ‘‘Bustin’ Loose’’, with his group, 

the Soul Searchers, was the top song on the Billboard 

Top 100 R&B Chart for 4 weeks in 1979; 

Whereas Chuck Brown earned a Grammy nomination in 2010 

for the song ‘‘Love’’, from his album entitled ‘‘We Got 

This’’, and was awarded a National Endowment for the 

Arts National Heritage Fellowship in 2005; 

Whereas Chuck Brown’s go-go has been passed from generation to generation with undiminished popularity; 

Whereas Chuck Brown influenced jazz, rap, and go-go musicians, such as the bands Trouble Funk, Rare Essence, 

and Experience Unlimited (also known as E.U.); 

Whereas Chuck Brown was so committed to securing statehood and equal voting rights for the residents of the District of Columbia that he played a concert on a very hot, 

humid day on the United States Capitol Grounds in 

2010; 

Whereas the District of Columbia has named a street located 

near the historic, modernized Howard Theatre for Chuck 

Brown; 

Whereas the District of Columbia has named a park located 

at 2901 20th Street, NE, for Chuck Brown; 


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•HRES 541 IH 

Whereas go-go serves as the soundtrack for the ‘‘Don’t Mute 

D.C.’’ movement; 

Whereas Chuck Brown is admired for having risen from 

humble beginnings and overcoming time in prison to become a devoted father and family man; 

Whereas Chuck Brown was a great, multitalented musician 

who brought joy through his music, never stopping until 

his death; and 

Whereas August 22, 2019, is Chuck Brown’s birthday: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports 

2 the designation of ‘‘Chuck Brown Day’’ and honors Chuck 

3 Brown’s contributions to music and to the District of Co4 lumbia. 

Æ 


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