IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 484
Expressing the sense of Congress that the Honorable Percy Sutton be recog-
nized as primarily responsible for the rebirth of the legendary Apollo 
Theatre of Harlem and as a trailblazer in business, politics, telecommuni-
cations, and law. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 22, 2004
Mr. RANGEL submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Government Reform 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of Congress that the Honorable Percy 
Sutton be recognized as primarily responsible for the 
rebirth of the legendary Apollo Theatre of Harlem and 
as a trailblazer in business, politics, telecommunications, 
and law.
Whereas as we celebrate the rebirth of 125th Street, the 
main street of Harlem and the 70th Anniversary of the 
Apollo Theatre, Harlem’s historic entertainment land-
mark, we pay tribute to Percy Sutton, the man who was 
most responsible for revitalizing, renovating and re-open-
ing the historic Apollo Theatre of Harlem when he pur-
chased the deteriorated and neglected property in the 
1980s;
•HCON 484 IH 
Whereas by the 1970s, the Apollo Theatre was no longer a 
financially successful business due to the rise of recording 
technology and an increased demand for artists; the the-
atre quickly fell into bankruptcy in 1979; two years later 
Percy Sutton purchased the building and through his ef-
forts the legendary theater was given the designation as 
a New York City and state landmark and listed on the 
National Register of historic places; 
Whereas under Percy Sutton’s direction the ailing theatre 
was transformed from its run down condition, restored 
and turned into a functioning theatre, due to his con-
tributions more than a decade ago, the theatre began its 
vibrant rebirth as a landmark center of entertainment; 
without his vision and commitment the Apollo Theatre 
would not exist today; 
Whereas designated as a historic landmark the legendary 
Apollo Theater encompasses much more, it is a source of 
African American pride and a symbol of the brilliance of 
American artistic achievement; from 1934 when the Apol-
lo first introduced its world-famous ‘‘Amateur Night’’ 
which launched the careers of legendary artists like Ella 
Fitzgerald, James Brown, Michael Jackson, and Lauryn 
Hill, the Apollo has maintained its position as the na-
tion’s most recognized arena for budding and seasoned 
Black and Latino performers; because of Percy Sutton’s 
major contributions to the legendary Apollo Theatre it 
continues to be the institution ‘‘where stars are born and 
legends are made’’; 
Whereas the Honorable Percy Ellis Sutton is a pioneer who 
has made great contributions to the City of New York 
and the nation as an entrepreneur, political leader and 
civil rights activist;
•HCON 484 IH 
Whereas an astute businessman and innovator in the broad-
cast industry, Percy Sutton co-founded the Inner City 
Broadcasting Corporation (ICBC), which purchased 
WLIB–AM, the first ever Black owned radio station in 
New York City and later WBLS–FM, a leading radio 
station in New York City; as chairman and owner, his 
company ICBC currently ranks No. 58 on the Black En-
terprise (BE) Industrial/Service 100 list; 
Whereas in 1966 he was elected Borough President of Man-
hattan, one of New York City’s highest civic positions, 
winning eighty percent of the vote, he filled this office 
with great distinction for more than eleven years; 
Whereas in 1964, Percy Sutton ran and was elected as one 
of the first African American members of the New York 
State Assembly where he served two years; 
Whereas Percy Sutton was a World War II flyer who enlisted 
with the Army Air Corps in New York to serve with the 
distinguished and famously revered Tuskegee Airmen; he 
won combat stars for his role in the Italian and Medi-
terranean operations as an intelligence officer with the 
332nd Fighter Group’s 99th Pursuit Squadron and was 
honorably discharged as a Captain; 
Whereas he served as a civil rights attorney for the NAACP 
and as the personal lawyer to the famed Black Nation-
alist leader, orator and activist, El-Hajj Malik El 
Shabazz (aka Malcolm X); 
Whereas Percy Sutton was a pioneer in establishing trade 
and commercial ties between the United States and the 
Caribbean; 
Whereas in 1995 Percy Sutton was selected by the late Hon-
orable Ron Brown, former United States Secretary of