MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Norwood, Simmons (13th), Blackmon, Jordan, Frazier, Brumfield, Butler, Simmons (12th), Thomas, Jackson, Blount, Horhn, Chassaniol, Hopson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SALUTING AND EXTENDING THE CONGRATULATIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE TO 90-YEAR-OLD BLUES LEGEND BOBBY RUSH FOR WINNING A 2024 GRAMMY AWARD FOR "BEST TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM" AT THE 66TH GRAMMY AWARDS FOR HIS ALBUM ENTITLED ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU.
WHEREAS, acclaimed and celebrated Mississippi Blues Ambassador Bobby Rush won "Best Traditional Blues Album" during the 66th Grammy Awards this year for his album All My Love For You, making this his third Grammy win; and
WHEREAS, the long-admired 90-year-old took the Grammy stage to receive his third Grammy while paying homage to those who came before him such as Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Tyrone Davis and Johnnie Taylor, all ground-breaking musicians he looked up to; and
WHEREAS, a 16-time Blues Music Awards winner, the current album All My Love For You has been praised by All Things Considered, American Songwriter, The Bluegrass Station, NPR Music, Rock & Blues Muse and more; and
WHEREAS, Bobby Rush has been called the "Dean of the Blues" and "King of the Chitlin Circuit" because of his longevity and popularity. His fusion of funk, R&B, blues, and in some cases, rap, gives him a signature sound and stage persona; and
WHEREAS, "Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!" said an enthused Rush after his name was announced as the winner. "I want to thank the Academy for choosing me. I'm so blessed and thankful." He told the crowd that he has recorded 380 records in a career that spans six decades. This year, Rush was competing against younger and older blues Musicians who all respected him. Bobby Rush is definitely the hardest working Bluesman in show business. Leading up to the Grammys, he performed at numerous public appearances; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, he won a Blues Music Award for "Album of the Year" for his studio recording Porcupine Meat. 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 another recognition this year, which brings his total to seven career Grammy nominations and three Grammy wins; and
WHEREAS, Bobby Rush has amassed unbelievable accomplishments.
He was designated the first blues artist to perform at the Great Wall of China to a record audience of over 40,000; received a Congressional Commendation by both United States Senator Steve Cohen and United States Congressman Bennie Thompson; was honored by Tennessee Veterans with his Red, White and Blues Jam Annual Concert; he either knows, has performed with or has recorded for, more than six consecutive decades with the likes of: Quincy Jones, Calvin Carter, Elvis Presley, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Ike and Tina Turner, Vee Jay Records, and Malaco Records; has performed for one of the nation's longest-running blues festival, the Mississippi Delta Blues & Heritage Festival, for 36 of the 39 years that it existed; been the International Ambassador of the Blues for the State of Tennessee; and International King of the Blues by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we pay tribute to this respected musician whose body of work has brought great entertainment to fans nationally and internationally and brought honor to Bobby's Blues Community and to 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 extend the congratulations of the Mississippi Legislature to 90-year-old Mississippi Blues Legend Bobby Rush for winning his third Grammy for "Best Traditional Blues Album" and for his contributions to the world of music and his multi-decade cultural Ambassadorship and positive impact on the creative economy of the State of Mississippi.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Bobby Rush, forwarded to the Mississippi Development Authority and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.