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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Twelve members of the Prairie View A&M University |
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Marching Storm band have been selected to perform with the 369th |
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Experience World War I Centennial Band; and |
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WHEREAS, The 369th Infantry Regiment was a legendary |
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all-black unit that gained renown during World War I; originally |
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known as the 15th New York National Guard Regiment, it was called to |
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active duty in July 1917 and deployed to Europe six months later; |
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assigned in April 1918 to the French Army, the regiment |
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subsequently served 191 days in the trenches, earning the name the |
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"Harlem Hellfighters" for the courage and tenacity demonstrated by |
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its members in combat and becoming one of the most decorated |
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American units of the Great War; and |
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WHEREAS, James Reese Europe, a celebrated ragtime and jazz |
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musician, served as an officer in the 369th, and he organized its |
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regimental band, recruiting musicians both at home in the States |
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and in Puerto Rico; in addition to playing for the troops, the band |
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performed extensively for the public and was one of the first |
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ensembles to introduce jazz to European audiences; it also made a |
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number of influential recordings for the French record label Pathé, |
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and following the war, it toured major cities in the United States; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The 369th Experience World War I Centennial Band is |
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one of a number of projects endorsed by this country's World War I |
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Centennial Commission; led by Dr. Isrea Butler of the University of |
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Maryland Eastern Shore with the assistance of executive producer |
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Dr. Stephany B. Neal, the band is bringing together talented young |
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musicians from across the nation to re-create the unique sound of |
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Lieutenant Europe's famed group; following an initial performance |
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in New York during the International Historic Brass Symposium in |
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July 2017, the 369th Experience will perform over the next two years |
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at venues throughout the United States and Europe; and |
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WHEREAS, The members of the PVAMU Marching Storm who have |
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been selected for the 369th Experience band are tuba players |
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Dominique Burton, Isaac Dodoo, and Jacob Paul Tatum, trombonist |
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Stanico Knowles, trumpeters David Burrows, David Otinwa, Craignal |
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Wright, and Aaron Cossé, tenor saxophonist Jarrod Henry, euphonium |
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player Josue Canizales, and saxophonists Christopher Quiroz and |
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Shawn Smith; and |
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WHEREAS, This commemorative undertaking both highlights the |
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honored place that the 369th holds in the annals of World War I and |
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celebrates the significant contribution that its regimental band |
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made to the history of jazz, and these exceptional musicians from |
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Prairie View A&M may indeed take pride in joining this prestigious |
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endeavor; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the members of the Prairie View A&M |
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University Marching Storm who have been selected to the 369th |
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Experience World War I Centennial Band and extend to them sincere |
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best wishes for continued success in all their endeavors; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared |
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for the band members as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |