H. Res. 476 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
July 16, 2009. 
Whereas in 1979, the month of June was proclaimed ‘‘Black 
Music Month’’ and all people in the United States were 
encouraged to learn more about the important role that 
African-American artists have played in shaping history 
and culture; 
Whereas America’s rich heritage is influenced by the diversity 
of its people and the important contributions of Black 
culture; 
Whereas America’s cultural story is heavily influenced by the 
celebration and struggle of Black people through their 
musical expression; 
Whereas many genres of music, such as gospel, jazz, blues, 
rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and soul that were an 
integral part of American culture, trace their roots back 
to the banks of the Mississippi River in cities like Mem-
phis, St. Louis, New Orleans, and other cities like Kan-
sas City and Chicago; 
Whereas the amount of musical talent and skill that came 
from the Mississippi Delta and the myriad of towns in 
this region is undeniable; 
Whereas these genres of music illustrate the complexities of 
the African-American experience and they give a voice to
•HRES 476 EH 
many social movements and inspiration to countless gen-
erations of people in the United States; 
Whereas as early as the 1860s, the ragtime artist Scott Jop-
lin broadened the operatic and classical worlds and Black 
traveling brass bands trekked to Beale Street in Mem-
phis, ‘‘Home of the Blues and Birthplace of Rock and 
Roll’’, to perform; 
Whereas gospel music and its artists like Thomas Dorsey, 
Lucy Campbell, Dr. Herbert Brewster, Mahalia Jackson, 
Aretha Franklin, Shirley Caesar, and Kirk Franklin are 
a special part of the American tradition that spawned fu-
ture musical genres; 
Whereas the mid-20th Century saw the emergence of 
groundbreaking jazz and blues artists such as W.C. 
Handy, Bessie Smith, Lena Horne, Charlie Parker, Lio-
nel Hampton, Max Roach, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, 
Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, Etta James, 
John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, 
Wynton Marsalis, Louis Armstrong, Professor Longhair, 
James Booker, the Neville Brothers, Muddy Waters, Al-
bert King and B.B. King; 
Whereas conductor and producer Quincy Jones was heavily 
influenced by the improvisational nature of jazz per-
formed in Harlem by Sarah Vaughn, Duke Ellington, 
and Dizzy Gillespie; 
Whereas multifaceted Harry Belafonte expanded the African 
Diaspora’s music by introducing calypso to America; 
Odetta, known as the voice of the Civil Rights Movement, 
had a powerful musical repertoire; Sammy Davis, Jr. im-
pressed the world as crooner and a renowned entertainer; 
and Ray Charles, ‘‘The Genius’’, consolidated gospel,
•HRES 476 EH 
country, and blues music to influence rock and roll music 
and help to create soul music; 
Whereas legends like James Brown, Bo Diddley, and Little 
Richard helped the transition from blues to rock & roll 
music with ease, Tina Turner riveted sold out audiences 
domestically and abroad, and Jimi Hendrix created a new 
musical form; 
Whereas Jackie Brentson, Howlin’ Wolf, The Staple Singers, 
Otis Redding, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Al Green, Willie 
Mitchell, Johnny Taylor, Isaac Hayes, and songwriter 
David Porter combined to place more than 167 hit songs 
in the Billboard Top 10 Pop charts and a staggering 243 
hits in the Top 100 R&B charts at Sun Studios, Hi 
Records, and Stax Records in Memphis; 
Whereas Stax, dubbed ‘‘Soulsville USA’’, had a revolutionary 
sound that earned eight Grammys and an Oscar; 
Whereas the Motown empire attracted creative individuals 
such as Smokey Robinson, The Four Tops, Holland 
Dozier Holland, Martha Reeves, The Temptations, The 
Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Jacksons, and Stevie Won-
der to Detroit; 
Whereas Hitsville USA produced an astonishing amount of 
Top 100 hits that spanned over three decades and by the 
1970s was the largest independent record company in the 
world; 
Whereas by the 1970s and 80s, new genres of music emerged 
in the form of funk, rhythm and blues, hip hop, and rap 
in cities across the country including Los Angeles, Phila-
delphia, New York City, and Atlanta; 
Whereas African-American music illustrates exceptional musi-
cianship;
•HRES 476 EH 
Whereas African-American composers, writers, singers, in-
strumentalists, and producers are at the top of many 
charts and in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Blues 
Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; 
Whereas African-American music embodies an original ex-
pression of the human experience by entertaining, inspir-
ing, and stirring countless people in the United States 
and around the world; and 
Whereas June 2009 marks the 30th anniversary of ‘‘Black 
Music Month’’: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives celebrates 
the goals and ideals of ‘‘Black Music Month’’. 
Attest: 
Clerk.