House Concurrent Resolution 52

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING FAMOUS BLUESMAN BOBBY RUSH UPON WINNING HIS SECOND GRAMMY AWARD IN THE TRADITIONAL BLUES CATEGORY FOR HIS ALBUM "RAWER THAN RAW" AT THE 62ND GRAMMY AWARDS.

WHEREAS, on Sunday, March 14, 2021, Mississippi octogenarian and blues ambassador, Bobby Rush was awarded the second golden gramophone of his career at the 62nd Grammy Awards for his album "Rawer Than Raw" in the category for Best Traditional Blues Album; and

WHEREAS, at the ripe age of 87 years old, Rush, a Blues Hall of Famer, twelve-time Blues Music Award winner and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, is one of the last African-American bluesmen from the class to emerge out of and triumph in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s; and

WHEREAS, after having recorded for more than 20 labels over the span of his 70-year career, from Checker/Chess and ABC to Philly International and Rounder/Concord, and accumulating more than 400 songs, 80 CD releases, and now 27 albums, Rush bested a pair of fellow Mid-Southerners, including Bentonia, Mississippi-native, Jimmy "Duck" Holmes, and Memphis soul-bluesman, Don Bryant, to win the category; and

WHEREAS, after receiving his third Traditional Blues Album nomination and first Grammy win, a Blues Music Award for Album of the Year for his studio recording "Porcupine Meat" in 2017, Bobby spent the next year writing material for his follow-up album, "Sitting on Top of the Blues," which was released in 2019, and featured 11 originals, which earned him another Blues Music Award and Grammy Award nomination, before receiving recognition this year, which brings his total to six career Grammy nominations and two Grammy wins; and

WHEREAS, "Rawer Than Raw," released by Deep Rush/Thirsty Records on August 28, 2020, was recorded in Jackson, Mississippi, over the span of several years, and features five originals and six covers to honor some of his Mississippi blues emissaries, including: Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Sonnyboy Williamson II, Skip James and Elmore James; and

WHEREAS, "Rawer Than Raw" is a stripped-down, acoustic version of the Grammy Award-winning bluesman, who has been performing since 1951, which highlights the songs performed in a solo setting with only Rush, his guitar, a harmonica and a little percussion, a drastic departure from the extravagant showman perception many are accustomed to experiencing; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize the outstanding talented musicians that call our state home, such as Bobby Rush, whose music and achievements bring great pride to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Bobby Rush upon his very much deserved second-career Grammy Award for "Rawer Than Raw," and sincerely hope there is much more music to come from our beloved bluesman.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Bobby Rush and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.