In Honor of Ira Sullivan
Floor Speech
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Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, we are nearing 4 years since we lost a jazz great. I rise today to honor the life of one of our jazz legends and icons, Ira Sullivan.
Ira was many things: a jazz great, an educator, a mentor, a father, a husband, and a friend of mine.
I remember first meeting him when I was in about the seventh or eighth grade, as a student of the University of Miami Young Musicians Camp Jazz Honor Program.
I remember walking in very young, and he asked me to play vibraphone to a jazz song, which was kind of weird for me. I was pretty young in my jazz education career, and I didn't know about jazz vibraphone. It almost felt as if he was asking me to play a timpani to a jazz song. It was very foreign.
The next day, I came in, and he gave me a pair of Gary Burton mallets, and he told me to give it a try. Believe it or not, I was still very confused. Either way, that decision and that gift he gave me changed my life forever.
From then on, I would start practicing jazz vibraphone and became quite obsessed with it. I stopped auditioning on the drum set at my school and started auditioning to be a jazz vibraphonist.
Years passed. Ira would always invite me to go back to perform with him in whatever the new class was at the University of Miami for the summer camp. I got to meet all the young people from across the country who Ira had inspired and whose lives he had changed.
Ira Sullivan achieved technical skills not achieved by many: a multi- instrumentalist in the truest sense of the word, fluidly being able to play trumpet, saxophone, flute, and other instruments.
Ira also had the ability to be a jazz great in the history books but also remain an accessible educator for artists of many different levels. Ira mentored greats such as Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny, but he also continued to teach high schoolers and college-aged students at the Young Musicians Camp at the University of Miami, where I met him.
Today, I honor the life of Ira Sullivan because he inspired so many young musicians.
I stopped practicing swing many, many years ago, but I have been telling myself that I ought to get back to it. I am committed to starting back up in his honor.
The last thing I will say, too, is a quick story. I remember going into high school jazz band, and I hadn't practiced very much that day. I got yelled at by the band director, rightfully so.
That night, I went home and felt very defeated. My dad came into my room with the house phone, and he said: Ira Sullivan is on the phone for you. I said: The Ira Sullivan? He said: Yeah, the Ira Sullivan.
I spoke with him for maybe 30 minutes, 45 minutes, told him about my day. I remember hanging up and going to practice all night. God bless my parents.
I went into jazz band that next day. Not only was I able to play the song proficiently, but I did it with so much passion, some of the most passion I had ever played with before. I think it is because, number one, I got up off of my butt and practiced, but also because Ira Sullivan called me.
Long live the memory of Ira Sullivan, jazz great, educator, friend, and mentor. Acknowledging Suicide Prevention Month
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Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize September as Suicide Prevention Month, a time for us to come together, raise awareness, and offer hope to those facing thoughts of suicide and other mental health issues.
This issue hits particularly close to home for our veterans as we lose 17 veterans due to suicide every day. These are our friends, loved ones, neighbors, and people who served our country with courage, but are now struggling in silence. Whether it is safe firearm storage, better and increased access to mental healthcare, or the immediate support of the 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline, we can all play a part in saving lives.
People in a mental health or suicide crisis deserve and need a compassionate and an effective response. The path toward saving lives starts with a conversation. Talking openly about suicide prevention and mental health can break the silence, and sometimes just one conversation can make all the difference.
We owe it to those who we have lost and those still struggling to listen and to act and to work together toward a future where no one has to fight alone. In Honor of Omari Jones
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Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Omari Jones, an exceptional central Floridian in my district who has made history as a bronze medalist in boxing at the 2024 Olympics.
Omari was just one of eight boxers to bring home a medal, demonstrating his skill, courage, and determination.
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