MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2002 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representative Coleman (65th), Clark, Espy, Evans, Fleming, Green, Harrison, Morris, Perkins, Robinson (63rd), Scott (80th), Smith (27th), Wallace, Watson, West
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING JAZZ CONCERT VOCALIST CASSANDRA FOWLKES WILSON ON HER MANY ACHIEVEMENTS AS AN INTERNATIONAL CONCERT ARTIST.
WHEREAS, Cassandra Fowlkes Wilson is an internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist, noted as "the most accomplished jazz vocalist of her generation"; and
WHEREAS, born in Jackson, Mississippi, to Mary Fowlkes and the late Herman Fowlkes, Ms. Wilson developed an early love for music, studying piano from the age of nine and writing her own songs on the guitar at age 12; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Wilson, by the age of 19, had begun performing folk material around Mississippi and Arkansas, gradually immersing herself in jazz under the tutelage of Alvin Fielder and singing with Jackson's Black Arts Music Society; and
WHEREAS, after graduating with a degree in mass communications from Jackson State University, Ms. Wilson worked at a New Orleans television station before journeying to New York to pursue a career in music; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Wilson's sultry voice has graced numerous albums and has been featured with such artists as Steve Coleman and Five Elements, the M-Base Collective, New Air and Bob Belden's Manhattan Rhythm Club; and
WHEREAS, having toured extensively throughout the United States and abroad, Ms. Wilson has been featured in many national magazines including "New York Magazine," "Rollingstone," "USA Today," "Time," "Chicago Sun-Times," "New York Daily News" and "Houston Chronicle"; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Wilson, having enjoyed the success of selling more than 250,000 copies of her album entitled Blue Light 'til Dawn, was named "Female Singer of the Year" in 1994; and
WHEREAS, gaining much notoriety from her albums Rendezvous, Blood on the Fields and New Moon Daughter, which received a Grammy nomination, and working with such musical greats as Jacky Terrasson and Wynton Marsalis, Ms. Wilson recently sang in the movie "The Score," starring Robert DeNiro, Edward Norton, Angela Bassett and Marlon Brando, and in the movie "Junior"; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Wilson, currently working on a jazz album entitled In the Belly of the Sun, has been chosen to be guest speaker for the 68th Founder's Day for the Beta Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., on February 23, 2002; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives of the State of Mississippi to commend excellence in such an outstanding and exemplary Mississippian as Cassandra Fowlkes Wilson, whose achievements have brought great pride to her family and the citizens of this state:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Cassandra Fowlkes Wilson on her many achievements as an accomplished jazz vocalist and international concert artist.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Cassandra Fowlkes Wilson and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.