LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim June 2015 as African American Music Appreciation Month in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with its
time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those who seek
to preserve and celebrate the musical heritage of our State and Nation;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorial-
ize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2015 as African American
Music Appreciation Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with
the observance of National African-American Music Appreciation Month;
and
WHEREAS, African American Music Appreciation Month is an annual cele-
bration of African American music in the United States, commemorated
with special performances and multi-day festivals in musical genres
ranging from soul to jazz to gospel throughout the nation; and
WHEREAS, Observation of Black Music Month was initiated on June 7,
1979, by President Jimmy Carter, who decreed that June would be the
month of black music; since then, American presidents have continued the
practice and, for each year of his term, President Barack Obama has
announced the observance under a new title, African American Music
Appreciation Month; and
WHEREAS, America's diverse musical heritage is a reflection of the
creativity and optimism of our Nation; during African American Music
Appreciation Month, we celebrate the breathtaking talents and creativity
of African American vocalists, instrumentalists, and composers whose
achievements have shaped our national culture and enriched our communi-
ties; and
WHEREAS, For the entire span of our Nation's history, African Ameri-
cans have created music that communicates across racial and social boun-
daries, giving voice to the full range of human experience; and
WHEREAS, During African Americans' involuntary servitude, music often
served as a means of expressing the inexpressible; when facing the
cruelty of slavery and injustice, spirituals brought comfort to troubled
souls; and
WHEREAS, These timeless declarations of hope and faith evolved into
the more modern genres of gospel, blues, ragtime, and jazz, expressed in
the musical genius of Scott Joplin, Marian Anderson, Eubie Blake, and
Mahalia Jackson; during the Civil Rights era, African American musicians
such as Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters, and Ruth Brown conveyed the strug-
gles of their communities while bringing people of all backgrounds
together; today, this music continues to inspire America's citizens and
advance its creative spirit; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the course of American history, black musicians
have used their great talents to share the richness of the African Amer-
ican experience and to develop a uniquely American style of music
enjoyed throughout the world; in June 2015, we honor the pioneers of
African American music along with today's artists who continue their
legacy; and
WHEREAS, From "Glory", the winning best song in the movie "Selma" to
the historic success of Jay-Z and Beyonce, to the continual social
impact displayed by artists such as Stevie Wonder and Prince who
performed in Baltimore, Maryland, remind us that Black lives matter; and
WHEREAS, A local component, the Harlem Renaissance, was the name given
to the cultural, social, and artistic movement that took place in Harlem

between the end of World War I and the middle of the 1930s; during this
period, Harlem was a cultural center, drawing black writers, artists,
musicians, photographers, poets, and scholars; and
WHEREAS, The Bronx is home of hip-hop, a cultural movement which
formed during the late 1960s among African American youths residing in
the South Bronx in New York City; hip-hop legends who hail from the
Bronx include KOOL DJ Herc, Grandmaster Melle Mel and Kurtis Blow; in
addition, preparations are being made, led by Rocky Bucano, for a
universal hip-hop museum to be located in the Bronx; and
WHEREAS, Events which provide a means of preserving a part of our rich
American past and which contribute to the community in such noble
endeavors as aforementioned, are held in the highest regard by this
Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 2015 as African
American Music Appreciation Month in the State of New York; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.