June 11, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks E1051 The abuse of power and invasion of privacy TRIBUTE TO BENNY CARTER, Carter, Gerald Wilson, and Quincy Jones. wreaks of Big Brother. It is a blatant violation BUDDY COLLETTE, AND GERALD Buddy's works such as ``Blue Sands'' have be- of the right to privacy the Constitution guaran- WILSONÐTHREE GREAT ARTISTS come jazz standards. tees each and every American. Equally out- In addition to composing, arranging, and rageous is the fact that the president invoked HON. JULIAN C. DIXON performing, Buddy is committed to touching lives through education. He has devoted a ``Executive privilege'' to prevent release of OF CALIFORNIA great deal of time to teaching students at all documents in which the request for FBI files IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES levels about the rich history of jazz and the was discovered. Tuesday, June 11, 1996 contributions made by the pioneers of the The Clinton administration is caught red- Mr. DIXON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join music. His numerous activities include assem- handed this time in what seems to be a reoc- the Library of Congress in honoring Benny bling a volunteer faculty of professional musi- curring denial of responsibility, they explain it Carter, Buddy Collette, and Gerald WilsonÐ cians for an afterschool program for at-risk as just another goof by unknown bureau- three of America's most talented jazz musi- junior high students, and working closely with cratsÐwas the goof the fact that the docu- cians. Last week the Library of Congress hon- the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs ments were requested or the fact that the doc- ored these wonderful, Los Angeles-based art- and the Oral History program at UCLA in pre- serving and presenting the history of jazz in ument requests were discovered? Further, we ists by sponsoring three concerts featuring Los Angeles. Later this year, Collette will join must also question who at the White House their music. the faculty of California State University, Long BENNY CARTER knew the files had been gathered and why Beach, as a professor of jazz performance. were they kept at the White House rather than Bennett Lester ``Benny'' Carter was born in In 1994, Buddy joined other performing arts returned to the FBI after the error was discov- New York, in 1907 and studied piano as well professionals to found JazzAmerica, a non- ered in 1994? as trumpet and saxophone with his mother profit, tax-exempt corporation to support and and sister in Manhattan. Although his parents serve as an advocacy organization for jazz The changing and conflicting stories put sent him to Wilberforce University in Ohio to forth by the Clinton administration are not ac- music and musicians across the country. He study theology, jazz gradually became more formed the corporation because he believes ceptable. The American people deserve one important to him. One summer he joined a storyÐthe truth. that jazz is the crown jewel of American cul- jazz band led by Horace Henderson, brother ture and needs an institutional structure of of bandleader Fletcher Henderson, and never f presenters and performing arts venues. looked back. While perfecting his craft, Carter JazzAmerica's programs include a jazz studies studied under the likes of Duke Ellington, the course for junior and senior high school music HONORING THE DAVIDSON COUNTY Charlie Johnson Band, Fletcher Henderson, RESCUE SQUAD teachers, a series of low-priced Young Peo- Chick Webb, and McKinney's Cotton Pickers. ple's Jazz Concerts at The Music Center of He was given the nickname ``gentleman of Los Angeles County, and in-school concerts HON. BART GORDON jazz'' for his gracious manner and reverence and teaching residencies by master jazz art- for jazz. ists. In 1933 Benny Carter began leading his OF TENNESSEE GERALD WILSON own groups, and in 1935 he went to Europe IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Gerald Wilson was born in 1918 in Shelby, to tour and arrange for the BBC dance band. MS. At age 14 he moved with his family to Tuesday, June 11, 1996 During this time he also worked with Coleman Detroit and began studying jazz in high Hawkins and Django Reinhardt. Carter re- school. In Detroit, Wilson was exposed to the Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I am taking this turned to the States in 1938 and led various great bandleaders Duke Ellington, Don opportunity to applaud the invaluable services bands throughout the early 1940's which gave Redman, Erskine Tate, Earl Hines, and Char- provided by the Davidson County Rescue exposure to a number of talented artists, in- lie Barnett. From 1939 to 1942 he worked with Squad. These brave, civic-minded people give cluding Miles Davis and Max Roach. In 1943, Jimmie Lunceford's orchestra as a trumpeter, freely of their time so that should disaster he began to concentrate on film scoring and composer, and arranger. He then moved to strike, we know that our friends and neighbors produced brilliant work for a number of films Los Angeles and performed with Les Hite and are there to help. over the years, including ``Buck and the Benny Carter. Wilson formed his own orches- Preacher,'' ``A Man Called Adam,'' and ``The Few realize the depth of training and hard tra in 1944 and performed regularly on the fa- Hangman.'' Carter also composed music for mous Central Avenue jazz scene. After a brief work that goes into being a member of the the television show ``M-Squad.'' Cater's great- stint with his own orchestra, he composed rescue squad. Rescue squad members under- est works include `Blues in My Heart,'' ``Blue music and performed with Count Basie, Duke go a training series over a 4- to 6-month pe- Star,'' and ``When Lights are Low.'' Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, and Billie Holiday. riod which includes instruction in Still going strong at nearly 90 years of age, During the 1950's Wilson wrote for television cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR], vehicle you'll find the gentleman of jazz performing at and movies, appearing in ``An American in extrication, emergency driving, and rescue ori- concerts and festivals all over the world and Paris'' with Gene Kelly and ``The Outsider'' entation. In addition to this training, rescue helping younger musicians through his jazz with Tony Curtis. squad members also meet monthly to address workshops. Carter has received numerous In 1961 Wilson began working with his or- business concerns as well as hear guest honors, including an honorary doctorate from chestra again, naming it the ``Gerald Wilson speakers. Princeton in 1974 and designation as an Orchestra for '60s'' for the decade in which he ``American Jazz Master'' by the National En- Rescue squad members are volunteers. was performing. This band, which is remem- dowment for the Arts. bered for its magnificent performance at the They receive no pay for what they do. What BUDDY COLLETTE 1963 Monterey Jazz Festival, included saxo- also makes their service especially outstand- The great flutist and composer William phonists Harold Land and Teddy Edwards, ing is that the organizations themselves re- ``Buddy'' Collette was born in South Central guitarist Joe Pass, and pianist Jack Wilson. ceive no funding. They receive no funding Los Angeles and grew up as a childhood He also wrote for motion pictures and tele- from the city, the county, or the Federal Gov- friend of the magnificent bassist Charles vision, and was nominated for two Grammys. ernment. Mingus. As teens, Collette and Mingus would Wilson currently conducts his ``Orchestra of Rescue squads are funded in the same spir- play for tips as they rode the Red Line Trolley the '90s,'' which is made up of Los Angeles- it of community volunteerism which moves cars. based musicians, including his award-winning them to serve. Family, friends, and neighbors He first gained national prominence in the son Anthony Wilson and grandson Eric Otis. pitch in at bake sales, road blocks, and fish 1950's, playing flute with drummer Chico It was not enough for Wilson to perfect his frys to help those who sacrifice their time for Hamilton's Quintet. Collette was also the first own craft; he believed in passing on his African-American artist to play in a TV studio knowledge to younger generations. In the past the benefit of the whole community. orchestra and helped to integrate the all-black 25 years, he has taught at the California State Committing such an amount of spare time Musicians Union Local 767 into the previously University campuses of Los Angeles and and energy to a job so emotionally and phys- all-white Local 47. Buddy has played with Northridge, and more recently at UCLA. Stu- ically taxing requires a sense of devotion and many other jazz greats, including Ella Fitzger- dents enrolled in Wilson's courses benefit from duty for which we are all grateful. ald, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Benny the unique opportunity to learn from a jazz E1052 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð Extensions of Remarks June 11, 1996 master who has played and shared many ex- pleased to welcome Fast Forward to End Hun- ium Concept which preserves the ecological periences with other great artists. ger as an ally in our efforts to help Americans beauty of the park. This strategy was so well Mr. Speaker, Carter, Collette, and Wilson in battling childhood hunger in their commu- received, CAN DO was awarded the 1993 En- have been colleagues, collaborators, and nities. vironmental Excellence in Economic Develop- friends for most of their lives. Together these The Video Software Dealers Association ment Award from the Arthur D. Little organiza- men have created a legacy of powerful music and the End Hunger Network deserve praise tion.