Regular Session, 2010 ENROLLED SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 21 BY SENATOR DUPLESSIS A RESOLUTION To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of Marva Wright Plessy, internationally known blues and gospel recording artist. WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and a profound sense of sorrow that the members of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana and the citizens of Louisiana have learned of the death of Marva Wright Plessy, world renown blues and gospel singer, at the tender age of sixty-two; and WHEREAS, as a young child Marva Wright grew upon on Carrollton, listening to her mother sing and play piano at Greater St. Stephen Baptist Church on South Liberty Street in New Orleans, Louisiana; and WHEREAS, her mother attended McDonough 24 Elementary School with future gospel legend, Mahalia Jackson, and they remained friends throughout her life; and WHEREAS, Marva Wright recalled meeting the family friend and her future mentor, Mahalia Jackson, when she was only nine years old, and at the time had not yet realized the extent of her fame, but later became aware of the music legend's tremendous popularity; and WHEREAS, Marva graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, and attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and WHEREAS, she married her first husband and began raising their children, confining her singing to home and church; and WHEREAS, while working as a secretary at Eleanor McCain Secondary School, she was encouraged to pursue singing as a profession, and she wrestled with the notion of performing sacred gospel music in secular clubs; and WHEREAS, after consulting a childhood friend and fellow gospel singer, Jo "Cool" Davis, she took the leap, making singing her career, as Davis advised that "you can only go so far in gospel, ... but not everybody has that raw talent like Marva, I'd put Marva in a category with Mavis Staples, somebody that talented has to go another route," with Marva heeding his advice she expanded her talents to include bawdy blues; and Page 1 of 4 SR NO. 21 ENROLLED WHEREAS, she nurtured her career in such clubs as the Old Absinthe Bar, and in 2008 Marva recounted, "I love Bourbon Street, if it wasn't for Bourbon Street, I would not be where I am at today, you meet a lot of people from all over the world"; and WHEREAS, in 1990, while singing Gospel and Blues on Bourbon Street, she met "60 Minutes" correspondent Ed Bradley, and he became an ardent fan; introducing her to many people all over the world, and up until his death he introduced her before her performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival; and WHEREAS, her audiences at Uptown club Muddy Waters occasionally included a daughter of then Vice President Al Gore, and her mother, Tipper, which led to an invitation to perform at the White House; and WHEREAS, that same year she released her debut album, "Heartbreakin' Woman," on Tipitina's Records; a French label issued 1993's "Born With the Blues;"and she covered a U2 song as the title track of her 1995 "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"; and WHEREAS, her tenth album, 2001's "Marva" was somewhat of an eclectic affair, featuring duets with such guests as Bo Dollis and Terrance Simien, covering Bob Dylan's melodies "Serve Somebody" and "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," which for her these were gospel, maybe new wave gospel, but concerning the album she said, "you could not label the CD gospel, blues, R&B, or country because it is a little of all of it"; and WHEREAS, among her many accomplishments she was enormously popular among fellow musicians, moving easily between gospel spirituals and bawdy blues romps, and in her late-blooming career, released albums on local and international record labels; and WHEREAS, she performed all across Europe, Russia, and Brazil, and at blues festivals around the United States, always drawing large crowds at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and annually staged a special Christmas Concert at Tipitina's; and WHEREAS, Hurricane Katrina inundated her home in eastern New Orleans with nearly eight feet of water, and she and her second husband, Antoine "Tony" Plessy, moved to Bel Air, Maryland to be near her adult children; and WHEREAS, not being impressed with the culinary choices of her home-in-exile, she was forced to cook without the essentials: Louisiana crabs, shrimp, and seasonings, recalling that someone sent her crab boil that she was forced to use because they did not have hot Page 2 of 4 SR NO. 21 ENROLLED sausage, and while she lost weight during her year in Maryland, her voice remained undiminished; and WHEREAS, by the fall of 2006, she had resettled in Harvey, Louisiana, and at that year's Voodoo Music Experience in City Park, she performed a tribute to Mahalia Jackson in the Preservation Hall Tent, and much to her surprise an overflow crowd showed up for her Sunday morning set; and WHEREAS, always backed by a crackerjack band, she sat on a stool with eyes clenched, and dug into gospel standards, "This Little Light of Mine,""Soon I'll Be Done With the Troubles of This World," and "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," and recast the Gloria Gaynor disco anthem, "I Will Survive," as a dramatic statement of resolve; and WHEREAS, from 2007 through March of 2008, she sang most weekends in the Ritz- Carlton's On Trois Lounge; and WHEREAS, in March 2008, she returned to Bourbon Street with her band the BMWs, an acronym for "Band of Marva Wright"; and WHEREAS, in August 2008, she was among the Louisiana artists who performed at the welcoming party for the delegates of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, at the Colorado Convention Center, and sang "A Change Is Gonna Come," accompanied by guitarist, Tab Benoit; and WHEREAS, in 2009, she suffered two strokes, the first stoke in May after which she was able to recover and resume performing; however, in June a far more traumatic stroke left her no longer strong enough to perform; and WHEREAS, throughout her career, she produced several critically acclaimed albums and has received much recognition as a distinguished singer; and WHEREAS, Marva Wright Plessy merits a sincere and heartfelt measure of commendation for her dedication to the city of New Orleans, and for her contributions to the culture of Louisiana, as a highly successful artist. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend Marva Wright Plessy on her distinguished career as a legendary musician, does hereby recognize and record for posterity her notable accomplishments and Page 3 of 4 SR NO. 21 ENROLLED manifold contributions to music and to the city of New Orleans, and does hereby extend enduring appreciation for the tremendous pride and honor that she brought to her community, state, and nation. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be presented to the family of Marva Wright Plessy. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE Page 4 of 4.