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Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of William "Count" Basie and Acknowledging His Contributions to Jazz and Swing Music

By: Max Burns
By: Max Burns
Date: Sept. 29, 2004
Location: Washington, DC


COMMEMORATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF WILLIAM "COUNT" BASIE AND ACKNOWLEDGING HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO JAZZ AND SWING MUSIC -- (House of Representatives - September 29, 2004)

Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 778) commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of William "Count" Basie and acknowledging his important contributions to jazz and swing music.

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GENERAL LEAVE

Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 778.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Georgia?

There was no objection.

Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in support of House Resolution 778, offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of William "Count" Basie, and acknowledging his important contributions to jazz and swing music.

William "Count" Basie was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, on August 21, 1904. His vibrant musical career took off in 1927 when he moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and joined Walter Page's Blue Devils Band. From there, William "Count" Basie joined the Bennie Morton Band and took over as band leader in 1935, renaming the band the Count Basie and his Cherry Blossom Orchestra.

Count Basie and his Cherry Blossom Orchestra disbanded, but eventually re-formed as the Count Basie Orchestra, which went on to dominate the realms of jazz and swing for several decades. The Count Basie Orchestra established swing as a predominant force in the musical taste of generations, and their music set the tone for modern jazz.

In 1983, William "Count" Basie was awarded an American Jazz Masters Award by the National Endowment for the Arts. A historic theater in his hometown of Red Bank, New Jersey, was renamed the Count Basie Theater in 1984, and the United States Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in his honor in 1996.

Over the years, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences awarded William "Count" Basie nine Grammy Awards, which led to a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.

House Resolution 778 commemorates the 100th anniversary of the birth of William "Count" Basie and acknowledges his important contributions to jazz and swing music. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) for introducing H. Res. 778, and urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bonner). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Burns) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 778.

The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.

A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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