Senate Bill sb2844

    Florida Senate - 2003        (NP)                      SR 2844

    By Senator Argenziano





    3-1586A-03

  1                    Senate Resolution No. ____

  2         A resolution recognizing 2003 as the "Year of

  3         the Blues" in the State of Florida.

  4  

  5         WHEREAS, Blues music is the most influential form of

  6  American roots music, being heard around the world in Rock 'n

  7  Roll, Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, Country, and even in modern

  8  Classical music, and

  9         WHEREAS, many organizations throughout the nation,

10  including the State of Florida, are dedicated to promoting,

11  nurturing, and preserving the Blues for future generations,

12  and

13         WHEREAS, the Blues is an important documentation of

14  African-American culture and American history since the turn

15  of the 19th century, with significance for race relations, pop

16  culture, and the nation's migration from a rural to an urban

17  society, and

18         WHEREAS, the Blues is the most celebrated form of

19  American roots music, as is evident from the hundreds of

20  festivals annually conducted around the nation and in Florida,

21  such as the "Freedom Blues Festival" in Tallahassee,

22  "Springing the Blues" in Jacksonville Beach, and the "Sarasota

23  Blues Fest", as well as major festivals in Tampa, Ft.

24  Lauderdale, Dunnellon and Levy County, and other areas in the

25  State of Florida, and

26         WHEREAS, the Blues and Blues musicians old and new,

27  male and female, originating from every state in the nation

28  including Florida are recognized and revered worldwide as

29  unique and important ambassadors of America and its music, and

30         WHEREAS, there are organizations in Florida, such as

31  the Apalachee Blues Society in Tallahassee, the Suncoast Blues

                                  1

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2003        (NP)                      SR 2844
    3-1586A-03




 1  Society in Tampa, the Blues Society of Northwest Florida in

 2  Pensacola, and the South Florida Blues Society in Ft.

 3  Lauderdale, dedicated to preserving, nurturing, and promoting

 4  the Blues throughout Florida, and

 5         WHEREAS, there are many living legends of the Blues

 6  from Florida who should be recognized and have their stories

 7  and music preserved for future generations to appreciate, and

 8         WHEREAS, the year 2003 is the Centennial Anniversary of

 9  the year W.C. Handy, upon being inspired by music he heard in

10  a railroad station, began composing the first Blues music

11  distributed throughout the nation, leading to his being

12  designated the "Father of the Blues," NOW, THEREFORE,

13  

14  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

15  

16         That the Florida Senate recognizes 2003 as the "Year of

17  the Blues" in the State of Florida, and requests that the

18  Governor of Florida issue an Executive Proclamation calling on

19  the citizens of the state to observe 2003 as the "Year of the

20  Blues" through appropriate ceremonies, festivals, activities,

21  and educational programs.

22  

23  

24  

25  

26  

27  

28  

29  

30  

31  

                                  2

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.