Bill Text: PA HR409 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Celebrating the contributions of Michael Jackson to music, performance, culture and charity and extending condolences to his family.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-4)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-07-15 - Referred to RULES [HR409 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR409-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2450
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 409 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY BISHOP, WATERS, BUXTON, GEIST, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, KIRKLAND, PAYTON, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH AND YOUNGBLOOD, JULY 15, 2009
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, JULY 15, 2009
A RESOLUTION
Celebrating the contributions of Michael Jackson to music,
performance, culture and charity and extending condolences to
his family.
WHEREAS, Singer, songwriter Michael Joseph Jackson was born
on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, to an African-American
working class family; and
WHEREAS, His father, Joseph Jackson, was an aspiring musician
who put aside his ambitions to provide for his family as a crane
operator, but who saw musical talent in his children; and
WHEREAS, Michael Jackson first performed at the famed Apollo
Theater with his brothers before he was ten years of age,
winning Amateur Night in August 1967; and
WHEREAS, The Jackson 5 was the opening act for such Rhythm
and Blues artists as Gladys Knight and the Pips, James Brown and
Sam and Dave, on the Motown label, and Gladys Knight brought
them to Benny Gordy's attention at Motown Records; and
WHEREAS, He was the lead singer of The Jackson 5 from the
tender age of five, recording hits for Motown Records, such as
"ABC" and "I Want You Back" by the time he was 11; and
WHEREAS, In 1969, the Jackson family relocated to Los
Angeles; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jackson released his first solo album in 1972,
before his 15th birthday, titled Got To Be There, which included
the hits "Got To Be There" and "Rockin' Robin"; and
WHEREAS, In that same year, Mr. Jackson garnered his first
number one hit single as a solo artist, "Ben," which won a
Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences Award; and
WHEREAS, In 1978, Mr. Jackson made his feature film debut,
starring as the Scarecrow in The Wiz, directed by Quincy Jones,
and many groundbreaking creative collaborations with Mr. Jones
followed; and
WHEREAS, In 1979, he released Off The Wall, his first album
with Jones, which became a multiplatinum album and produced four
Top 10 singles; and
WHEREAS, In 1982, Mr. Jackson released Thriller, the best
selling album of all time worldwide and the first album to top
four of Billboard's charts simultaneously; it contained seven
Top Ten hits, including chart topping "Billie Jean" and "Beat
It"; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jackson redefined the music video, changing it
from a minor promotional tool to a major theatrical production,
with videos like "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "Scream," "Remember
the Time" and, perhaps most memorably, "Thriller"; and
WHEREAS, He delighted millions of people when he performed
the Moonwalk, a dance step that seemed to defy the laws of
physics, as part of his performance of "Billie Jean" during
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, which was broadcast on May
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16, 1983; and
WHEREAS, In 1985, to form USA for Africa, Mr. Jackson united
diverse musicians from across the United States, including
Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner and Bob Dylan,
raising more than $68 million to fight famine in Africa through
sales of the single "We Are The World," which he wrote with
Lionel Richie; and
WHEREAS, Charity remained close to Mr. Jackson's heart for
the remainder of his life, as he had supported 39 charities,
donating millions of dollars to help those less fortunate; and
WHEREAS, In honor of his accomplishments and his contribution
to Rock and Roll, Mr. Jackson was inducted into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame twice, once as a solo artist and once as a
member of The Jackson 5; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jackson was planning a comeback series of
concerts at the O2 Arena in London, called This Is It, which
sold out in short order; and
WHEREAS, Michael Joseph Jackson passed away unexpectedly,
just as he was beginning his return to the top of the music
industry, on June 25, 2009; and
WHEREAS, He leaves behind a shocked and devastated family
that includes his children, Michael Joseph Jr. (Prince Michael
I), Paris and Prince Michael II; his parents, Katherine and
Joseph; five brothers who were his partners in The Jackson 5 and
its later incarnation, the Jacksons, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine,
Marlon and Randy; and sisters, Rebbie, LaToya and Janet; and
WHEREAS, In the immediate aftermath of his untimely death,
Mr. Jackson's music again climbed to the top of the charts,
claiming the entire Top Ten roster of the Top Catalog Album
Chart with sales of 800,000 albums in one week; and
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WHEREAS, More than 31 million viewers watched the television
memorial service for Mr. Jackson on July 7, 2009; and
WHEREAS, The gifts that Michael Jackson gave to the world
through his talent and philanthropic giving will not soon be
forgotten; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives celebrate the
contributions of Michael Jackson to music, performance, culture
and charity and extend sincere and heartfelt condolences to his
family.
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