MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Simmons, Butler (38th), Chassaniol, Dawkins, Dearing, Fillingane, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SALUTING AND CONGRATULATING LEGENDARY GRAMMY AWARD RECIPIENT DR. BENJAMIN WRIGHT FROM GREENVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, UPON HIS INDUCTION INTO THE MISSISSIPPI MUSIC HALL OF FAME.
WHEREAS, what do the following four legendary songs all have in common?
ˇ "Boogie Wonderland" - Earth, Wind & Fire;
ˇ "Find 100 Ways" - James Ingram;
ˇ "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough," "Rock With You," and the recently released "Breaking News" by the late pop icon, Michael Jackson; and
ˇ "Until the End of Time," "Take It From Here" - Justin Timberlake.
They have all sold millions of copies, are all recognized the world over and, more importantly, they were all Grammy songs either written, arranged or produced by a multi-platinum, award-winning, Greenville, Mississippi, native Benjamin Wright; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Music Hall of Fame had its 15th annual induction ceremony on January 18, 2011, and one of the inductees was Dr. Benjamin Wright. He is a legendary music arranger and producer who has:
ˇ A 50+ year career working with the likes of Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, Joss Stone, The Temptations, Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson;
ˇ Contributed to works totaling more than $100 Million album sales;
ˇ More than 30 Gold, Platinum and Diamond album certifications;
ˇ Has two microphones custom made in his honor by leading microphone manufacturers;
ˇ Grammy Award winning writer; and
WHEREAS, it was in 1964 in Greenville, Mississippi, when Coleman High School Band Director, Roy P. Huddleston, recognized the raw talent of a brilliant but often strong-minded 6'2" drummer and encouraged him to seek a career as a professional musician and composer. The young man listened and, because of that, more than 50 years later he was inducted into the Mississippi Music Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, although many may have never heard of him, he has quietly amassed one of the most impressive resumés in the music industry. His illustrious career, which spans well over 5 decades, has allowed him to work with amazing artists as generationally diverse as the late Duke Ellington, super producers Quincy Jones, Teddy Riley and Justin Timberlake; and
WHEREAS, musical groups associated with Ben Wright include, but are not limited to, the following: Paul Anka; Rance Allen; Aretha Franklin; Janet Jackson; The Temptations; The Whispers; Shalamare; Debarge; Earth, Wind and Fire; Mary Mary; Gladys Knight and The Pips; The Gap Band; Michael Jackson; Toni Tony Ton'e; Outkast; Destiny's Child; Joss Stone; Jamiroqual; Toni Braxton; and Mary J. Blige; and
WHEREAS, in 2007, MXL Microphones released the flashy new Gold 35 microphone for a producer named Benjamin Wright, who has promoted the rest of the industry standard MXL product line; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this "100 Million Album Man" from Mississippi whose outstanding music productions have brought honor to his community and extended the musical heritage of the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby salute and congratulate legendary six-time Grammy Music Award recipient and prolific producer Dr. Benjamin Wright from Greenville, Mississippi, upon his induction into the 15th edition of the Mississippi Music Hall of Fame, and we extend our best wishes to him and his family on this auspicious occasion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Ben Wright, forwarded to the Mississippi Music Hall of Fame and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.