HR0726 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0726 LRB098 17737 GRL 52855 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Black Mary for her work in keeping dusty music alive; and

WHEREAS, Black Mary was born on April 14, 1941; she grew up on Maxwell Street and later moved to Cabrini Green in Chicago; she attended Marshall High School; and

WHEREAS, Black Mary served as a registered nurse for 40 years; following her retirement, she continues to work part-time at a nursing facility; and

WHEREAS, Black Mary was a member of the Dancettes; she later left that group to form the Original Old Timers, which she has maintained for many years; and

WHEREAS, With the advent of disco in the 1970s, most establishments stopped playing dusty music; through great determination, Black Mary began to ask club owners to play dusty music; finding no club that would do so, she developed a beautiful dusty set every first Sunday of the month in locations throughout Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Thanks to Black Mary's persistence, dusty music has seen a new renaissance, with "The World's Largest Stepping Contest", "Steppin' at Club 7", "Can You Step with Me?", and the Steppin' movie and play all being staged and/or filmed in the City of Chicago; around 60 new steppers clubs have also been opened in the Chicagoland area; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Black Mary for her work in keeping dusty music alive and wish her continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Black Mary as a symbol of our esteem and respect.