September 7, 2016 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1217 Ms. Schack has been involved in local dis- Neil’s, Bosco’s, 50/50 Tower, The Spot, The grandchildren. Ruby Wilson had a unique and trict level committees throughout the years, in- Other Place, Beale Street Blues Club, Elvis incredible voice that Memphis, Beale Street, cluding: Mathematics Curriculum Writing Presley’s (on Beale), and the New Daisy and the entire music community and all of her fans Team, Assessment Writing Team, and Cur- Old Daisy Theaters. Ruby was also a regular around the world will miss. Hers was a life riculum Review Committee. During her years performer at B.B. King’s Blues Club and its well-lived. in the classroom setting, she served as a upstairs restaurant, Itta Bena. f Singapore Math trainer which required serving Ruby enjoyed new experiences and per- the district’s ten elementary schools. Most re- forming in new venues across the globe. COMMEMORATING THE BEGINNING cently, this past year Ms. Schack took the lead Throughout her career, Ruby performed in OF WORLD WAR II in establishing and implementing the district’s Asia, Europe and New Zealand for audiences New Teacher Math Curriculum Training and that included British and Mone´gasque royalty. HON. TED POE Beyond Math In Focus Training. Currently as She also performed for U.S. President Bill OF TEXAS the K–8 Mathematics Coach/Content Lead, Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, and she IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES she works closely with teachers to increase was a featured performer at the New Orleans Wednesday, September 7, 2016 student engagement, allow for problem solving Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2008, 2011 and within and beyond the classroom, and aid in 2012. In addition to touring, Ruby Wilson re- Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the date creating a structure of learning in the class- corded 10 albums and worked alongside Ray was September 1, 1939. It was a date that room. Charles, the Four Tops, Willie Nelson, Isaac would change the world forever. Nazi Ger- I ask you to join me in recognizing Ms. Hayes, Al Green’s Full Gospel Tabernacle many, under Adolf Hitler, invaded Poland by Schack on her achievement and this honor of Choir in Memphis and countless others. She air, land, and sea, igniting the Second World receiving the Presidential Award for Excel- also appeared in over 10 major films, including War and throwing the world into turmoil. Hitler lence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The Firm (1993), The Client (1994), The Peo- used what is known as the ‘‘blitzkrieg strat- egy’’ to occupy Poland. He attacked the coun- f ple vs. Larry Flynt (1996), Black Snake Moan (2006), and Delta Rising: A Blues Documen- try by air to destroy its infrastructure; mean- HONORING THE LIFE OF RUBY tary (2008). while, he directed a massive land and sea in- WILSON Ruby was the recipient of numerous awards vasion to take the nation. Poland’s troops and and recognitions. She earned the title ‘‘Queen military were unequipped to effectively fight HON. STEVE COHEN of Beale Street’’ in 1992 and has received the the Germans, so consequently Poland quickly OF TENNESSEE ‘‘Authentic Beale Street Musician Award,’’ the fell under the control of Germany and the So- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ‘‘Memphis Sound Award for Best Entertainer,’’ viet Union. Hitler had hoped that Britain and France would tolerate the invasion like they Wednesday, September 7, 2016 the ‘‘Blues Ball Award: Special Achievement,’’ the ‘‘Willie Mitchell Jus Blues Award,’’ and the had when Hitler invaded Sudetenland and Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ‘‘W.C. Handy Heritage Awards: Lifetime Czechoslovakia. However, the invasion of Po- honor the life of Ruby Wilson, a legendary Achievement.’’ Ruby also received the St. land was one invasion too many, and it signifi- Memphis Blues singer who was known as the Jude Children’s Hospital ‘‘Supporter Award,’’ cantly altered the course of history, launching ‘‘Queen of Beale Street’’ and was beloved not the ‘‘Networking for Memphis Community the allied and axis powers into a full scale only by the city of Memphis but by fans all Service Award,’’ and the ‘‘Arc of the Mid-South world war. over the world. Ruby Wilson was born in 1948 Community Leader Award.’’ She has been in- Germany initially intended to invade Poland in Fort Worth, Texas before making Memphis, ducted into the African American Hall of on August 26, not September 1. Hitler had Tennessee her home in 1972. Over time, Fame, the Afro-American Walk of Fame at signed a nonaggression pact with the Soviet Ruby became one of the greatest ambas- Lemoyne Owen College in Memphis and has Union on August 23 to ensure that the USSR sadors for Memphis and Blues music alike. a brass note in her honor on the Beale Street would not come to Poland’s aid, and within the Ruby’s passion for singing began early as a Walk of Fame. Ruby Wilson received acco- treaty, Hitler and Stalin agreed to divide Po- child in Texas singing in her church choir, lades from critics and fans throughout her ca- land between them once conquered. However, which was directed by her mother. Through reer and she will always be remembered for Hitler made a last minute decision to postpone the choir, Ruby performed with notable gospel her great voice and warm personality. the attack because, on August 25, Britain singers Rosetta Tharpe, The Blind Boys of For the city of Memphis, Ruby Wilson was signed the Polish-British Common Defense Alabama and Reverend James Cleveland. At more than just the Queen of Beale Street. She Pact, guaranteeing Poland military support if age 15, Ruby accepted renowned gospel sing- possessed a voice that was sought after by invaded. Hitler utilized false propaganda er Shirley Ceasar’s invitation to sing backup businesses and politicians for television com- throughout the next few days in an attempt to during a summer tour. mercials and radio ads because hers was a justify Germany’s impending invasion of Po- During this same time in her youth, Ruby credible voice of endorsement. She recorded land and to prevent Britain from coming to its learned her love of the Blues from her father, for small local businesses and I am forever aid. Hitler secretly attacked small installations who was an associate of famed guitarist and grateful for the ads that she recorded for me inside Germany and framed it on Poland, at- blues singer Freddie King. It was time spent and the support that she gave me. I am also tempting to pose as the victim instead of the with her father listening to Muddy Waters and thankful for the opportunity to have watched aggressor. The propaganda failed, though, other Blues musicians on the radio that influ- her perform many times in Memphis, including and both Britain and France entered the con- enced her future music career. This included at her last benefit performance at B.B. King’s flict when Germany overtook Poland. listening to Memphis Blues legend B.B. King, Blues Club on July 31st, less than two weeks The breakout of WWII, however, cannot be whom she met in Texas at age 14. They before her passing. As always, she was beau- attributed to any single event, but rather an formed a friendship that lasted his lifetime. It tiful and smiling while performing to a packed accumulation of issues that climaxed in a de- was then that B.B. King named Ruby his god- house as was befitting of her life, achieve- structive standoff between the Axis powers daughter, six years before she would sing with ments, contributions and memory. (Germany, Italy, Japan, Hungary, Romania, him for the first time. Ruby Wilson’s passing places her on the Slovakia, and Bulgaria) and the Allies (The By 1972, Ruby had lived and worked in Chi- same level, if not higher, as many Memphis United States, Great Britain, France and— cago singing gospel and directing church legendary geniuses that we’ve recently lost, later—the Soviet Union). The world had been choirs, and had returned to Texas to sing jazz. including Elvis Presley’s guitarist Scott Moore, anticipating war for a long time preceding She was touring by then and had, on occa- Stax Records and American Sound Studio Adolf Hitler’s invasion of Poland. The global sions, performed in Memphis, where she met producer Chip Moman, The Memphis Horns balance was unstable after World War I (ini- Stax Records songwriter, recording artist and saxophone and trumpet players Andrew Love tially and ironically considered ‘‘the War to producer Isaac Hayes, who suggested she and Wayne Jackson, and Maurice White, End All Wars’’) and international tensions re- move there. After relocating to Memphis, Ruby founder of the multi-Grammy Award winning mained high. Germany especially was dealing taught kindergarten for eight years while build- music group Earth, Wind and Fire. with significant instability and neglect as a ing her music career on the nightclub stages Ruby Wilson passed away on Friday, Au- consequence of the First World War, and this of Beale Street and surrounding venues, in- gust 12, 2016 at 68 years of age. She is sur- national crisis led to the election of Adolf Hit- cluding Club Handy, Rum Boogie Cafe´, Club vived by her daughters Shallisa Alexander and ler. Hitler’s invasion on this day 77 years ago Royale, Mallard’s, Alfred’s, Silky ’O Sullivan’s, Stacey Ragston, her sons Keith and Kenneth provoked Britain and France to declare war The Blues Room, In The Alley on Beale, Moseley, and 12 grandchildren and five great- against the malicious power on September 3,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:00 Sep 08, 2016 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K07SE8.024 E07SEPT1 emcdonald on DSK9F6TC42PROD with REMARKS