Senate Resolution 18

(As Adopted by Senate)

A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE RECOGNITION OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE TO VETERAN BLUES MUSICIAN KING EDWARD ANTOINE AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2023 GOVERNOR'S ARTS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC.

WHEREAS, the Governor's Arts Awards Program has announced its 2023 recipients, which include well-known Jackson Blues Guitarist King Edward Antoine ("King Edward") as the 2023 Governor's Arts Award for Excellence in Music; and

WHEREAS, established in 1988, Governor's Arts Awards are given to individuals and organizations to recognize outstanding work in the artistic disciplines, as well as arts-based community development and arts patronage in Mississippi. The awards are presented in partnership with the Governor's Office and signify the important relationship between government and the arts; and

WHEREAS, King Edward Antoine has been a working musician for 67 years. He first developed his guitar skills when he was a teenager, learning several genres, including zydeco, jazz, country, rock, R&B and blues to make a living with his music; and

WHEREAS, Antoine has been influenced by the blues legends he has played with, including his cousin Clifton Chenier, Magic Slim, Sam Myers, Hound Dog Taylor, Junior Wells, Tyrone Davis, Buddy Guy, Otis Clay and McKinley Mitchell; and

WHEREAS, he is the guitarist on Mitchell's classic recording, End of the Rainbow. Antoine was also featured in filmmaker Robert Mugge's documentary, The Last of the Mississippi Jukes, which focused on the Subway Lounge, a legendary blues club in Jackson; and

WHEREAS, as the former Lead Guitar Player for the Blue Monday Band, Antoine was a staple at the weekly Blue Monday show at Hal and Mal's restaurant in Jackson, Mississippi, for over 11 years. His fame has grown through the international blues fans who have attended Blue Monday and spread the word about him. Before Blue Monday, Antoine performed at the legendary Subway Lounge in Jackson, Mississippi. He has performed at many local and national festivals, including the Chicago Blues Festival, the Crescent City Blues Festival in New Orleans, the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival in Davenport, Iowa, and the B.B. King Homecoming Festival in Indianola, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Antoine has been a member of the Mississippi Arts Commission's Artist Roster for 10 years; and

WHEREAS, he is also featured on three Mississippi Blues Trail markers: The Subway Lounge, The Queen of Hearts, and Ace Records, where he recorded his first album; and

WHEREAS, he received a Peavey Award for his contribution to Mississippi music. He is a longtime member of the Central Mississippi Blues Society and a past member of the International Blues Foundation of Memphis; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we pay tribute and express appreciation for the talent of a Mississippi musician who has made Mississippi a better place and exemplifies the music traditions of our great state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby extend the recognition of the Mississippi Senate to veteran Blues Musician King Edward Antoine as the recipient of the 2023 Governor's Arts Award For Excellence in Music and extend our congratulations to King Edward on this auspicious occasion.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to King Edward as part of the Governor's Arts Awards presentation and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.