House Resolution 1

A RESOLUTION HONORING THE MEMORY AND RICH LEGACIES OF LEGENDARY MISSISSIPPI BLUES MUSICIAN RILEY B. "B.B." KING AND MISSISSIPPI CIVIL RIGHTS PIONEER MEDGAR WILEY EVERS ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THEIR 100TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS.

WHEREAS, this year marks the 100th birth anniversary of the legendary blues guitarist, singer and songwriter Riley B. "B.B." King, who was born on September 16, 1925, near Itta Bena, Mississippi, and who left an indelible mark on the world of music; and

WHEREAS, this year also marks the 100th birth anniversary of American Civil Rights Activist Medgar Wiley Evers, who was born in Decatur, Mississippi, on July 2, 1925, and who was a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran who served in World War II who became a fearless pioneer as he was the NAACP's first field secretary in the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, B.B. King introduced a sophisticated style of soloing that influenced countless blues electric guitar players due to his fluid string bending, shimmering vibrato and staccato picking that set him apart and made him a role model for countless musicians; and

WHEREAS, due to the incomparable talent of B.B. King, AllMusic hailed him as "the single most important electric guitarist of the last half of the 20th Century," and he earned the nickname "The King of Blues" and was one of the "Three Kings of Blue Guitar" (alongside Albert King and Freddie King, none of whom were related); and

WHEREAS, the musical journey for King began in juke joints and local radio stations, and he later lived in Memphis and Chicago, and as his fame grew, he toured the world extensively; and

WHEREAS, B.B. King's soulful voice and expressive guitar playing resonated with audiences across generations and due to his popularity, he performed tirelessly, averaging more than 200 concerts per year, and as a testament of King's work ethic, in 1956 alone, he appeared at an astounding 342 shows; and

WHEREAS, the other would be renowned centenarian, Mr. Medgar Wiley Evers, dedicated his life to the defense of civil rights in Mississippi and the United States, and his impactful work included efforts to overturn segregation at the University of Mississippi, expand voting rights and promote economic opportunities for Black communities, just to name a few; and

WHEREAS, tragically, on June 12, 1963, Evers was assassinated at his home in Jackson, Mississippi, and his legacy lives on as his remarkable life and mournful death have inspired numerous works of art, music and film; and

WHEREAS, after his tragic death, Mr. Evers, who was a World War II veteran, was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery; and

WHEREAS, today, we honor Medgar Evers, a heroic civil rights activist, on what would have been his 100th birthday, and his unwavering commitment to justice and equality continues to inspire generations; and

WHEREAS, today we also honor B.B. King on what would have been his 100th birthday due to his contributions to the music fabric of America, and notably during his lifetime, King recorded more than 50 albums and won 15 Grammy Awards, including the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987; and

WHEREAS, in 1986, King earned a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 2003, the Rolling Stones magazine ranked King Number 3, behind only Jimi Hendrix and Duane Allman on the list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time"; and

WHEREAS, although King died on May 15, 2015, at the age of 89, his legacy lives on through his timeless music and Medgar Evers' legacy lives on through the Civil Rights Movement, and today, we celebrate the centenary of their remarkable lives; and

WHEREAS, it is most appropriate that the House of Representatives honor and remember the rich legacies of these two extraordinary Mississippians on their Centennial Birthday Anniversaries:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby honor the memory and profound legacies of legendary Mississippi Blues Musician Riley "B.B." King and Mississippi Civil Rights Pioneer Medgar Wiley Evers on what would have been their 100th birthday celebrations.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving descendants of B.B. King and Medgar Evers, forwarded to the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, the Mississippi Museum of History and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, and be made available to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.