SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 3
(By Senators Sypolt, Williams and Jenkins)
Commemorating the life of Mineral County native Donald Matthew
Redman, famous jazz musician, arranger and composer and
celebrating his 2009 induction into the West Virginia Music
Hall of Fame.
Whereas, Donald Matthew Redman was born July 29, 1900, in
Piedmont, Mineral County, West Virginia; and
Whereas, Donald Matthew Redman began playing trumpet at age 3,
joined his first band at age 6 and by age 12 was proficient in all
wind instruments and the piano
; and
Whereas, At the age of 20,
Donald Matthew Redman
earned a
music degree from Storer's College, a prestigious black college in
Harpers Ferry; and
Whereas,
Donald Matthew Redman went on to
study at
conservatories in Boston and Detroit before joining Billy Paige's
Broadway Syncopators in New York City in 1922, where he soon began
writing arrangements
; and
Whereas, While in New York City, Donald Matthew Redman
recorded sessions with famed jazz musicians such as Duke Ellington
and Louis Armstrong and became a major figure in the American jazz
scene; and
Whereas, Donald Matthew Redman is credited with creating the sound that was to become the big band Swing, an innovative style
that helped shape American and world music history; and
Whereas, Donald Matthew Redman's importance in the formulation
of hot jazz in the 1920s will be forever remembered through his
sophisticated and highly innovative compositions, which set the
tone for big band jazz writing for many decades; and
Whereas,
Sadly, Donald Matthew Redman passed away November 30,
1964, leaving behind a legacy that will be cherished forever
through his music; and
Whereas, In 2009, Donald Matthew Redman was honored for his
musical mastery by being inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall
of Fame; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby commemorates the life of Mineral County
native Donald Matthew Redman, famous jazz musician, arranger and
composer and celebrates his 2009 induction into the West Virginia
Music Hall of Fame; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate acknowledges the many
important contributions to field of music made by Mineral County
native Donald Matthew Redman; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward
a copy of this resolution to the representatives from Mineral
County.
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