Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor minority owned business, J & W Smokehouse in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. Owned and operated by Kennedy and Jean Johnson, J & W Smokehouse is a barbeque staple in the Mound Bayou community.

Since the age of sixteen, Kennedy dreamed of owning his own business. In 2009, on a quest to fulfill his passion for cooking, he and his wife Jean opened J & W Smokehouse.

Developing much of his skills from observing his father Mr. Eddie Johnson, Sr., Kennedy utilized his skills & unique grilling technique to master what has become known as the best barbeque in the Mississippi Delta.

The noteworthy recipes of the Johnson's have drawn the attention of specialty foods stores as well as online distributors which have aided in the great success of J & W Smokehouse.

Today, J & W Smokehouse services a multitude of clients and barbeque lovers in the Mound Bayou area.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing J & W Smokehouse and owners Kennedy and Jean Johnson for their contributions to the Mound Bayou community and their resounding entrepreneurial spirit.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a blues musician and legend of the Mississippi Delta, Mr. Willie ``Sonny Boy'' Williamson.

Mr. Speaker, the ``Blues'' is not just a song, it's a story about hard times and frustration put to musical rhymes and rhythms; it's a means to an end. The Blues was influenced by field hollers, religious hymns of hope, and even dance. So let me share a blues story with you through the life of Mr. Willie ``Sonny Boy'' Williamson.

If you happen to hear the names, Alex ``Rice'' Miller, Sonny Boy Williamson number 2, Sonny Boy Williamson the second, Willie Miller, Sonny Boy Miller, or Little Boy Blue, just know that it's the same Willie ``Sonny Boy'' Williamson of Tallahatchie County, Mississippi. His birth given name however, is Alex Miller. There are different reports circulating about when Sonny Boy was born. The dates in question are 1897, December 5, 1899, March 11, 1908, and December 5, 1912. He was born on the Sara Jones Plantation near Glendora, Mississippi. Nevertheless, it was not until 1941 that he began to assume the name of ``Sonny Boy'' Williamson when Max Moore, owner of Interstate Grocer Company's King Biscuit Flour business, started calling him by that name in order to promote the show.

Although researchers and historians alike have debated important dates and events surrounding his life, one thing they all agree upon is that he is a son of the Mississippi Delta blues, a self taught harmonica player, and a legendary blues singer and song writer. He began playing the guitar and harmonica at the early age of five. Sonny Boy's stepfather and mother, Jim and Millie Miller, never discouraged him from playing his blues music or his instruments.

Mississippi was a very implacable place for blacks in the 1900s with the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, efforts to pass life changing legislations, and when cotton pickers were paid about forty cents a day per one hundred pounds of cotton picked. The blues music was filled with lyrics about those times, bad luck, hope, and memories experienced or seen by the blues artist. Unrelenting beats accompanied the lyrics of the songs as the artist told their story.

In the early 1920's, Sonny Boy was a young man struggling to make a living, so he started performing in juke joints and night clubs throughout Mississippi and Arkansas under the name of Little Boy Blue. The pay was very meager or sometimes there was no pay at all. By the 1930s he left a life of sharecropping and cotton picking in Tallahatchie County and started becoming a familiar voice and blues artist on the local circuits. He played on the street corners, at church socials, fish fry's, and anywhere he could attract a crowd, sometimes getting paid. Sonny Boy made friends with other blues artists like Big Joe Williams, Elmore James, Joe Willie ``Pinetop'' Perkins, Robert Lockwood, Jr., and Robert Johnson. He was always looking for ways to entertain besides just singing, so he started doing what some might call impossible until they saw him do it--he would put his entire harmonica in his mouth and play it with no hands, wow, what a talent.

The 1940s was just as entertaining and by now, Sonny Boy's blues future was beginning to take shape. In 1941 he was hired to play on the King Biscuit Time show where he did advertisement for King Biscuit Flour on a radio station (KFFA) in Helena, Arkansas. The sponsors thought he would be perfect to advertise King Biscuit Flour to the black audience King Biscuit wanted to reach. He partnered with fellow blues artist Robert Lockwood for this gig and they became known as the King Biscuit Boys. The show was limited in range, only reaching an audience within about a 50 miles radius. As a result, he quietly started doing radio shows in Little Rock Arkansas, and Belzoni, Mississippi, outside of the range of KFFA. Then in the late 1940s ICFFA extended its listening audience through WROX in Clarksdale, Mississippi in the late 1940s, which was far enough for Sonny Boy to reach the ears of young Riley King, known as B.B. King, over in Indianola, Mississippi. On Saturdays, the KFFA King Biscuit Entertainers would visit grocery stores performing on King Biscuit's flatbed truck throughout Northern Mississippi delta towns like Sardis and Clarksdale. In 1944, his picture appeared on Sonny Boy Corn Meal and he became a household name.

Sonny Boy figured out he had a knack for the radio and he could make money doing it. So, he started his own KWEM radio show in 1948 until 1950. He moved to West Memphis, Arkansas in 1949 to live with his sister and her husband, Howlin' Wolf; another blues legend from White Station, Mississippi. This was his golden opportunity where he brought along other struggling great blues artists before they were greats. These were friends like James Cotton, Houston Stackhouse, Elmore James, B.B. King, Arthur ``Big Boy'' Crudup, Robert Nighthawk and others to perform on the show.

Sonny Boy finally got to record one of his many stories about the blues; it came in 1951 with his first single on Trumpet Records titled ``Eyesight to the Blind,'' where he was singing about a woman. Using the word ``good'' to describe him was not good enough; people often said that with this song he could make a blind man think he could see her. He was the primary artist for Trumpet Records. Henry and Lillian McMurry in Jackson, Mississippi were the owners. In 1955, he began recording for Chess Records in Chicago, Illinois after Trumpet Records went bankrupt. His years at Chess Records were his most successful in his career as a blues artist. In fact, he recorded about 70 songs from 1955 to 1964 for Checker Records, a subsidiary of Chess Records. In 1959 he finally got the opportunity to record a compilation of stories about the blues with his first LP record titled Down and Out Blues. It featured such hits as Dissatisfied, Your Funeral and My Trial, Don't Start Me to Talkin, and All My Love in Vain.

In the 1960s, he toured Europe several times during the height of the British blues excitement; having much influence on the Blues music he recorded with The Yardbirds, Eric Clapton, guitarist Jimmy Page, The Animals, and even Mississippi Slim of Greenville. In the summer of 1964, he did a BBC TV show with jazz musician Chris Barber. He also recorded with Roland Kirk, another jazz musician, who could play three horns at the same time. It was reported in the Led Zeppelin biography that while in England, Sonny Boy accidently set his hotel room on fire while trying to cook a rabbit in a coffee percolator.

Home sick for the Mississippi Delta area, the local blues circuit he started on, to see old friends, down home cooking and living, to hang out with new corners to the blues scene, and to play on KFFA again--all beginnings he wanted cash in for better endings, Willie ``Sonny Boy'' Williamson returned to Helena, Arkansas to live until his death in June 1965 from a heart attack. Sonny Boy Williamson was born on the Sara Jones Plantation near Glendora, Mississippi and buried on New Africa Road just outside of Tutwiler, Mississippi at the site of the former Whitman Chapel Cemetery. These towns are approximately 15 miles apart. His headstone was paid for and donated by Mrs. Lillian McMurray, owner of Trumpet Records, another one of his beginnings.

Over the course of Sonny Boy Williamson's career, he recorded over 150 songs, from 1951 and 1965. He wrote and composed most of his own songs, many of which were recorded more than once. A musical prodigy in his own rights and style, he was able to make each performance unique and different through impromptu styles of arrangements, tempos and lyrics.

Sonny Boy Williamson may have been characterized by a hip flask, British bowler sit'n high on his head cocked to the side, tailored made two-tone suits, a foul mouth, fast women, short tempered, and a grey goateed image, but don't forget about the characterization of his musical ability. He was highly original with his own signature harmonica style and vocal gift for moaning out a rich blues saga. Just as I stated earlier, there is no doubt about it, he had the blues.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Willie ``Sonny Boy'' Williamson, a world renowned blues legend and artist from the Mississippi Delta. He is truly worthy to be recognized.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a woman with an angelic voice, Bernita ``Bert'' Dixon.

Bernita Dixon is a lifelong resident of Copiah County, Mississippi. She was born on October 14, 1952 in Georgetown, Mississippi to the late Rev. Earl Carver Dixon and Lena Mae Cathchings Dixon. She graduated from Holtzclaw Memorial High School in Crystal Springs, Mississippi. Bernita attended Utica Junior College in Utica, Mississippi where she majored in Pre-Nursing.

She began singing at the early age of five. She would often sing at church, in the cotton field and any other place people would listen. She quickly became known for her strong voice. However, her stardom came with a price. She started to get tired of everyone wanting her to sing, so she blurted out; ``I'm tired of always having to sing''. Shortly thereafter Bernita was diagnosed with laryngitis and couldn't talk. She then prayed ``Lord, please give me back my voice, I will sing for you for the rest of my life''. Her voice returned more powerful and deeper than before. Later her brother decided to form a singing group with her and the rest of their siblings, ``The Dixon Singers''. The Dixon Singers have performed with several nationally known artists. Also, the Dixon Singers were the first group to ever record a double volume live album in the state of Mississippi.

Bernita is married to Gene Robinson. She is the mother of three, Derrick, Kenmantel and the late Ronrico. Bernita has worked as the Office Manager at Dixon Body & Auto Sales, Inc. in Hazlehurst, Mississippi since 1993. She is a member of New Hope M. B. Church in Georgetown, Mississippi.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Bernita ``Bert'' Dixon for her dedication and desire to share her voice with us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a philanthropic and blues musician in his own rights, Mr. Bobby Rush, born Emmit Ellis, Jr.; however he prefers to be called ``Bobby Rush'' in a one syllable pronunciation. The decision to change his name came simply out of respect for his father, Pastor Emmit Ellis, Sr.; because Emmit Ellis, Jr. wanted to be a Blues entertainer.

I could talk only about his career as a Blues artist and leave out the humanitarian side of Bobby Rush but I would be, as my mother used to say ``short changing,'' him. Blues is his ``love'', but his compassion is people.

Bobby Rush started singing at an early age, around six, when he made his first instrument, a guitar, out of a broom. He started entertaining around ten years old, and formed his first band around age thirteen. Here are three eyebrow raising interesting facts about Bobby Rush. One, with his father being the pastor of perhaps at least two churches, he never sang in the choir but he certainly sang from his seat. Second, although his parents were devout church goers and gospel listeners, they never discouraged Bobby Rush from singing and performing the Blues. And, they never saw him perform but he said, ``Every time I went home they had all my music already so I'm sure they kept up with me.'' And third, in getting started he often would role play himself performing and entertaining. Trying to mimic after other entertainers, he would ask his uncle about who was old enough to visit the clubs and watch them perform. He said he would add his own personal touch, of course.

Many people may not be aware of this but in 1951 he recorded his first song with Chess Records. Not only was he making history at Chess Records with other artists like Bo Diddly, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Rogers, Lowell Fulson, Memphis Slim, and others but he actually broke the color barrier around 1951 or 1952 when he became the first black entertainer to play on Bourbon Street on Chicago's Southside.

As a teenager, in 1953, he moved to Chicago with his family and began performing on the local blues scene. He also formed his own band. But it was in the 1970s when his career really started to take off with his first hit ``Chicken Heads'' on the Galaxy Record label. Bobby Rush has sold over 259 records on the Southern ``Chitlin' Circuit.''

Bobby Rush, like all other southern blues artist, could take a life- time telling stories about the highs and lows of his career. I'm sure he can tell you about how he faced racial issues, menial pay, his efforts to break the color barriers while out on tour in order to make a living so he could provide for his family, and even the disparaging work conditions he endured, to say the least.

Nevertheless, this veteran of the Blues has definitely established a name for himself among such great entertainers as, BB King, Howlin' Wolf, Solomon Burke, Ike and Tina Turner, Muddy Waters, Bobby Blue Bland, Etta James, Red Foxx, Otis Rush, Little Milton, Dick Gregory, and Sammy Davis, Jr. And by the way, many of these he performed with and apprenticed under as well. He has sang in night clubs, at festivals, at charity events, and in concert halls all over the world-- Chicago, Cleveland and Clarksdale Mississippi, Detroit, the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Poland, Japan, China, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Canada just to name a few places--and he is still traveling the world and performing.

In an interview back in the 90s with Stanley Booth, he said, ``Until a few years ago, nobody knew I exist. Not really. I'm probably the only one livin' who have did as well as I've done, and nobody know nothin' about me.'' One of the reasons is because Bobby Rush has always been his own manager, never taking on anyone to manage him, answering his own phone calls, and booking his own shows and then showing up to perform--no imposter there! When I asked him about that comment, he said, ``I'm just a Blues singer, I am just I am, the people's Blues singer. I never wanted to get too high where they couldn't reach me but I wanted to be high enough to be able to help them.''

After a lifetime of achievement, in April 2000, the Mississippi Senate passed Resolution 43 honoring Bobby Rush for his musical career. Then in 2003, he started his own record label, Deep Rush, on which he cut his CD ``Undercover Lover'' while performing live at club Ground Zero in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He is also the owner of Rush Productions, Inc. Also in 2003, he was featured in Richard Pearce's documentary film ``The Road to Memphis,'' which was part of the Martin Scorsese's film series ``The Blues.'' His awards and recognitions include but are not limited to: Best Live Performer of the Year, Best Blues Entertainer of the Year, Best Soul/Blues Album of the Year, and the James Brown Heritage Award.

Mr. Bobby Rush is still breaking barriers in the last decade because he has finally crossed over to white audiences; race is not the face of entertaining any longer but rather--whether or not the artist is good at what he does, and that he is.

Like he said back in the 90s, nobody knew he existed a few years earlier. But, I want to help make sure people know there is more to Bobby Rush than a Blues song. I stated earlier, ``Blues is his ``love'', but his compassion is people.''

Throughout his career, he has met people with circumstances that have reminded him of himself. For example, at one time in his Blues career he was too poor to afford health insurance, so as a result, his wife and three children died of sickle cell anemia. So, because of that he is always giving to support sickle cell anemia research. Blues in the Schools Program is a program he started because he wanted to help the Blues stay alive through our children! You can certainly make a living singing the Blues and be able to help someone in the process. Computers in Schools is another program he supports; once, he donated all the proceeds from an event to buy thousands of dollars worth of computers for West Tallahatchie County School District in Tallahatchie County,

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable gospel singer, Fred Flowers. Mr. Flowers was raised in Shelby, Mississippi by his parents Mr. Nathaniel Flowers and Mary Pippins.

Mr. Flowers attended church regularly and sang gospel songs at the request of his grandmother Ms. Mary Hall. Upon graduating from Shelby High School he attended Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi where he enjoyed listening to the renowned Rust College Acapella Choir. It was during this time he developed a love for Acapella singing. After graduating from Rust College with a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Biology, he furthered his education at Coahoma Community College, graduating with a Certificate in Practical Nursing. He also attended Mississippi Delta Community College graduating with an Associate Degree in Nursing, and Delta State University where he received a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Nursing. Mr. Flowers has worked 16 years as an Emergency Nursing specialist. His colleagues tell stories of Fred singing gospel songs to his patients which calms their fears.

After marrying Ms. Kerrin Williams and moving to Ruleville, Mississippi, he joined Delmar Avenue Church of Christ and made a decision that he was going to do more than sing privately in his car, at home or to his patients. Fred began to take the lead role singing church songs. He enjoys singing at church because his singing provides encouragement to the hearts and souls of the congregation. His singing has impacted his four sons, Darrell, Deracius, Fredarian and Justin so much that they enjoy harmonizing with him during their family activities.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Fred Flowers as an inspirational gospel singer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable librarian, Omeila McKinney. Omelia was born and reared on a plantation in Bourbon, Mississippi, to John Fred and Nancy Johnson. In January 1964 she and her family of five brothers and five sisters relocated to Mound Bayou, Mississippi where she resides today. She is a member of St. Mark Church of God in Christ in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. Her maternal grandparents Lem and Elsie Frye passed on a legacy of holiness that left the family without excuse when it comes to salvation. Her paternal grandparents Marshall, Sr. and Sarah were also devout people of God.

Omelia always liked to read even as a small child. Her dad taught her to read when she was three years old. He was a great supporter of his children obtaining an education even though he did not get his high school diploma until 1966. Her love for books led her to reading centers in elementary school where she read every book she could get her hands on and later to the library where she read so many books that the librarian gave her special permission to check out as many books as she liked. Upon graduating from Coahoma Junior College, in Clarksdale, Mississippi in 1969 with an Associates of Arts Degree in Social Studies, she furthered her education at Delta State College where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education. She taught in Social Studies in the Quitman County School District while pursuing a master's degree at Delta State University in library science.

After receiving a master of library science degree in 1974 from Delta State University, Omelia McKinney began her career as a high school library media specialist at John F. Kennedy High School in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. She was a professional library media specialist who has a broad understanding of the educational system and works closely with teachers, administrators and students in selecting and evaluating materials to support the instructional program.

Omelia was dedicated to the children of John F. Kennedy High and made great strides toward educating them in the use of media such as reading, research, audiovisual production and many other useful instruments that would assist the students to succeed. Students were also given comprehensive test to measure their skills which they did excel.

In the early 1990s, she wrote a mini grant which she used to purchase the first multimedia computer in the Mound Bayou School District. Upon receiving the computer she was aware she did not know what to do with it. However, she was determined to learn and solicited two students who were avid computer users to give her lessons. She took that knowledge and later became one of the best computer users in the district using her knowledge to help her co-workers as well as many students.

After serving the Mound Bayou Public Schools for 26 years, she applied and Was accepted to the North Bolivar School District in Shelby, Mississippi as their high school library media specialist. She continued the job she loved so much for another three years until her retirement in 2004. A year after retirement she took a position as branch librarian in Shelby, Mississippi at the public library. There she was helpful in bringing great improvements to the public library. After leaving the Shelby public library, Omelia returned to Broad Street High School in 2006 to work as a part time library media specialist. Her plan and goal was to help children improve their reading and research skills by utilizing the great resources of the library through fun and interactive activities.

Omelia uses her skills as a library media specialist in her role as the reading fair coordinator for the North Bolivar School District. Students she has worked with have won district, regional, and state honors for the past four years. She enjoys her job, students and her co-workers.

Omelia's profession as a librarian has had a positive impact on her husband of 37 years, Claude McKinney. During Mr. McKinney's tenure as an educator he utilized research and other knowledge to enhance his students learning abilities. The couple has four children, Desmond, Sheri, Preamiller and Tanjanikia McKinney.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a remarkable team, Mr. Johnny Kinard and the Reverend Marvin Myles, together they are Kinard & Myles True Gospel Productions, Inc. They have been in business for over twenty years in a promotional partnership showcasing some of this nation's finest gospel acts and artists alike.

Kinard and Myles believed there was no need for two promoters in a region as small as theirs and that they could expand their horizons if they joined in partnership. The competition was tough in the region and that is what drove them into their partnership. Kinard was inspired by Early Wright, so he started recruiting local artists to perform in February, in observance of ``Black History Month,'' and this tradition has lasted thirty years. Every year now, this annual event it is headlined by some of the biggest names in the field but it is the local groups that are the center of attraction. Kinard gives much credit to the success of this event to the community of churches. Beyond marketing through the church's network it is the nurturing of talent within these congregations, whether they are soloist, groups or choirs making gospel music entertainment in demand.

Johnny Kinard is also a radio personality; he is simulcast on KJIW- 94.5, WJIW-104.7, and KCAT-1340, every Thursday from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m. and on the internet at www.lordrgdio.com, where he reaches over a million listeners. The Mississippi Broadcasting Network named him the number one Gospel Music Promoter. Johnny Kinard is the recipient of the 2007 Mississippi Gospel Radio Announcer of the Year Award.

Over the years, Kinard & Myles True Gospel Production, Inc. was very good at booking local acts, working with other events and hosting concerts but on December 30, 2006, they had their greatest challenge, the Pre-New Year's Eve ``Gospel Jamboree'' at the 4000-seating accommodation Pinnacle Gymnasium on the campus of Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale, Mississippi. The biggest names in the field of traditional quartet gospel music and Grammy Award winners were present. These were such groups as The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Lee Williams & Spiritual QCs, the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi and

Alabama, the Jackson Southernaires, the Pilgrim Jubilees, Doc McKenzie & The Hi-Lites, the Violinaires, The Gospel Keynotes and the list went on. Even the great Early Wright, Johnny's mentor had never attempted such an undertaking. Failure to deliver a ``great show'' could destroy any gospel promoter's reputation. The task of trying to persuade businesses to sponsor gospel, not blues, and sell four thousand tickets at twenty to fifty dollars a ``pop'' tested this two-man operation to the max. The team, Kinard and Myles, believed that with God all things are possible; they said ``We called it faith'' and when applied properly it works every time. Dr. Vivian Presley, President of Coahoma Community College, attended the event and confirmed it was the first time a concert of any kind had sold out at the college.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Johnny Kinard and Reverend Marvin Myles of Kinard & Myles True Gospel Production on their work of putting Traditional Quartet Gospel Music at the forefront of American Music, again.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a Gospel Singers' Group, The Fayette Spiritual Aires.

In 1975, God gave Jimmy Jackson a vision to organize a gospel quartet group, which he named ``The Fayette Spiritual Aires''. Throughout the years, this group has touched many lives and led many to Christ through its singing ministry.

The Fayette Spiritual Aires has been blessed to do three professional recordings: In 1986, 1992 and their latest album in 2009. Jimmy Jackson, the founder of this group, served as manager and lead singer until his sudden death in 2002.

The group is currently managed by James E. Oliver and the supporting members are: Erma Clark, Carlton Brown, Ellison Brown, Freddie Blanton, Adrick Hunter, Kendrick Hunter, Derrick Varnado, Dwayne Thompson and James Jones. Fred Hunter is a former member of this group and one of the first promoters of professional gospel quartet groups in Southwest Mississippi.

Other members of the group that have departed life and left us with their memories are: the late Rev. David White, Moses Turner and Roosevelt Buie who were all dedicated to the Fayette Spiritual Aires.

This group has been inspired by personal performances with other professional gospel groups and has traveled to many cities throughout the United States performing their ministry through gospel singing.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring The Fayette Spiritual Aires, a Mississippi Gospel Singing Group.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable group,

The Kaiser Singers. The Kaiser Singers have become a household name for many. Their music has stirred the spirits and hearts of music lovers both young and old.

The group was formed in 1968 by Mrs. Beatrice Kaiser and her daughters, Annie, Hattie and Estella. They had no idea that this would be the beginning of a lifelong inspiration. The group's early years of singing was done mostly in churches around their hometown of Yazoo City, Mississippi. During those years they sang a cappella, learning to make sweet harmony with their voices.

After their first year of singing, the group was joined by Mrs. Kaiser's sister, Francine, and then later by her youngest daughter, Linda. In the early 70's, Ms. Diane Jones and Ms. Christine Burns joined the Kaiser Singers for a short while and Ms. Jones became the group's first musician. Several years later Mrs. Kaiser's son, Mr. Walter Ross, and a friend, Mr. Jamel Barley, joined the group as their musicians for a few months.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Kaiser Singers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable gospel singer, Karen Davis. M. Davis was raised in a musical home in Mound Bayou, Mississippi by her parents Ms. Betsy Jackson and the late Joseph Jackson. Her mother a pianist has a gospel group called the Jackson Starlets formerly known as the Jackson Starters. At the age of 3 years old, Ms. Davis began singing in Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church choir and also at rehearsals with her mother's group. Ms. Davis was active in music classes in junior high and high school where she played the piano and sang with the school choir.

After marrying Mr. Terry Davis and moving to Shelby, Mississippi, she expanded her gospel singing and piano expertise by becoming Choir Director at Mount Layton Missionary Baptist Church in Ruleville, Mississippi, and Mount Moriah Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Ms. Davis has been a pianist for various churches and receives many invitations to sing at numerous Christian and civic events.

Ms. Davis' family lineage includes renowned blues legend Nellie ``Tiger'' Travis. Her ten siblings, Jorgen, Clinton, Patricia, Audrey, Debra, Metra, Glynis, Almeta, Sonya and Bethina all sing and play the piano.

Ms. Davis believes gospel music is a ministry because it ministers to the soul of people. She has received many accolades from congregations and people who are fortunate to hear her sing. Her daughters, Sharita, Sharlette and Simone have developed a love for gospel music. Sharita sings alongside her mother at events and sings as a soloist.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. Karen Davis as an inspirational gospel singer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable young woman, Ms. Sylvia Jones. Sylvia was raised in Belzoni, Mississippi, by her parents, Marvin and Timaka Jones.

Sylvia has always strived for excellence. Her committed determination has earned her the Principal Scholar awards. Her high school grade point average is 3.70, putting her at the top of Humphreys County High School Class of 2012, and earning her the title of Valedictorian.

Sylvia has worked hard and has been active in different sports and organizations since she was in elementary school. During her high school years, she played basketball and served as a leader among her peers. She also played, softball, tennis, and ran track, which led to many athletic awards including the Coach's Award, Best Offensive Player, member of the All-District team throughout the Delta, and named the #2 player in the Delta. Sylvia is a member of the Senior Beta Club, Student Council Association, and Students Making a Change (SMAC). In August 2012, Sylvia plans to attend Jackson State University and major in Mathematics.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. Sylvia Jones for her determination and strive for excellence in education and leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a resourceful and ambitious woman, Mrs. Norma Sias. Mrs. Sias is a living testament to what can be done through hard work, perseverance and dedication.

Born July 24, 1943 to parents Leodis and Ukele York in Leona, Mississippi, Mrs. Sias is a graduate of Jordan High School in Carthage, Mississippi and current resident of Rolling Fork, Mississippi.

Norma obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Literature in 1966 from Jackson State University after which she began teaching at Henry Weathers High School in Rolling Fork. After four years of teaching English, Mrs. Sias became Librarian at Henry Weathers in 1970 and then later returned to Jackson State University to continue her studies in Library Science.

After completing her work at Jackson State University, Norma then ventured on to receive her Masters in Library Science from Delta State University, to shortly thereafter become Librarian of Anguilla High School, until she retired after 34 years of service in 2004.

In addition to her work as Librarian, Mrs. Sias serves as the president of the South Delta Retired Education Personnel office, secretary of the Issaquena Credit Union and secretary of St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church.

She is also an active member of Vicksburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. where she continues to work as a civil servant, participating in countless public service activities.

Mrs. Norma Sias has been married to Mr. Melvin Sias for 41 years to their union they have one daughter, Melanie.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mrs. Norma Sias for her dedication to serving our great her community and Sharkey County Schools.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable blues artist, Mr. Tyrone Davis.

Tyrone Davis was born as Tyrone Fettson on May 4, 1938, in Greenville, Mississippi. Through his blues career, he was first known as Tyrone the Wonder Boy, then later as Tyrone Davis.

Tyrone moved with his father to Saginaw, Michigan, before relocating to Chicago, Illinois in 1959. He then became a valet/chauffeur for blues singer Freddie King. He befriended the likes of Bobby ``Blue'' Bland, Little Milton, and Otis Clay, among others, and began to pursue his own singing career in the clubs on the city's West and South Sides. While working for King, he started singing in local clubs where he was discovered by record executive/musician Harold Burrage. This became the start of his career as a blues singer called ``Tyrone the Wonder Boy''.

His records for small labels under ``Tyrone the Wonder Boy'' did not bring him much success. In 1968, a successful Chicago record producer Carl Davis signed him to a new label, Dakar Records, that he was starting as part of a distribution deal with Atlantic, and suggested that he use the stage name Tyrone Davis. A Texas DJ flipped his first release over and started playing the B-side, ``Can I Change My Mind.''

Teamed with producer/arranger Willie Henderson, who masterminded ``Can I Change My Mind'', Tyrone Davis capitalized on his breakthrough with a string of orchestrated hits that emphasized his new, smoother style, and helped point the way for Chicago soul into a new decade. ``Is It Something You've Got'' reached the R&B Top Five in 1969, and it was followed in 1970 by the sublime ``Turn Back the Hands of Time.'' It was his second R&B number one, and also his biggest hit on the pop charts with a peak at number three.

Tyrone Davis hit the R&B Top 40 with steady regularity over the next few years, including the Top Tens . ``Could I Forget You,'' ``I Had It All the Time,'' ``Without You in My Life,'' and ``There It Is.'' In 1975, he scored his third number one R&B hit with ``Turning Point,'' but left Dakar for Columbia the following year.

Tyrone Davis' ballad mastery was a main selling point for Columbia, which made his backing orchestrations even lusher than before, but he also made the occasional concession to contemporary dance trends, which informed his debut Columbia hit ``Give It Up'' a number two R&B single from 1976. Further successes followed in ``This I Swear'' (1977), ``Get On Up'' (1978), and the slinky ballad ``In the Mood'' (1979). Tyrone Davis recorded his final album for Columbia in 1981, then switched to Highrise, where he promptly landed a Top Five R&B hit--his last, as it turned out--with ``Are You Serious'' in 1982. Short stints with Ocean- Front and Prelude followed before Tyrone Davis settled in with Future for the latter half of the 1980s. He spent the first half of the 1990s on retro-soul label Ichiban, recording several albums, and then moved to Southern soul imprint Malaco in 1996 for an equally productive stay that lasted into the new millennium. Tyrone Davis continued to release new albums every year or two, and toured the soul/blues circuit as restlessly as ever. Tyrone Davis suffered a stroke in October of 2004 and remained hospitalized until his death in February of 2005.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Tyrone Davis, a great blues legend from Mississippi's Second Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today Mrs. Doris Steen Ivy. Mrs. Ivy has proven to be a woman of tenacity, dedication, and compassion.

She is a resident of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, but was raised in the town of Anguilla. In 1972, Mrs. Ivy obtained her Bachelors of English degree from Mississippi Valley State University and later received her Master's of Science from Jackson State University in 1979.

After graduating from Jackson State University, Doris began teaching English for the South Delta School District in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, where she served as a Department Chair.

From 1992-1993, Mrs. Ivy taught English Composition I and II as an adjunct professor at Mary Holmes Junior College in West Point, Mississippi, and served as a Mississippi Teacher's Accountability Instrument Evaluator. Doris served as an ACT protector for twenty-two years and Drug-Free and Safety facilitator for South Delta High School for fourteen years as well as advisor for the South Delta High School peer counseling program. This program was able to provide food and inspirational services to members of the elderly community in Rolling Fork. In 2011, Mrs. Ivy furthered her commitment to literacy by becoming certified as a Library Media Specialist.

She is the wife of Mr. Sammie Ivy; to their union they have two children, Stephanie and Steven. Mrs. Ivy is a faithful member of Chapel of the Cross Church, where she has served as secretary for over thirty years.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join us in recognizing Mrs. Doris Steen Ivy for her unwavering commitment to serving as a role model and educator for the children of the South Delta School District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of the best blues pianists known, Mr. Joe Willie ``Pinetop'' Perkins.

Pinetop was born Joe Willie Perkins in Belzoni, Mississippi, on July 7, 1913. Pinetop dropped out of school after the third grade. He taught himself the rudiments of blues guitar on a homemade instrument called a diddley bow: a length of wire stretched between nails driven into a wall. He began entertaining at dances and house parties at age 10 and soon learned to play the piano as well. While still in his teens he left Mississippi and traveled to Chicago. But he came back to Mississippi and didn't decide to make Chicago his home until the 1950s.

He worked primarily in the Mississippi Delta throughout the 1930s and '40s, spending three years with Sonny Boy Williamson on the King Biscuit Time radio show on KFFA in Helena, Arkansas. Pinetop also toured extensively with slide guitar player Robert Nighthawk. After briefly working with B.B. King in Memphis, Pinetop ``barnstormed'' the South with Earl Hooker during the early '50s. The pair completed a session for Sam Phillips' famous Sun Records in 1953. It was at this session that he recorded his version of ``Pinetop's Boogie Woogie,'' a song originally written and recorded by pianist Clarence ``Pinetop'' Smith--the influential blues pianist who died from a gunshot wound at age 24 in 1929. Willie Perkins was already being referred to as ``Pinetop'' when he played on King Biscuit in the '40s, but it was his sensational version of this song that secured him the lifelong nickname of ``Pinetop.''

Pinetop Perkins started out playing guitar and piano at house parties and honky-tonks. In the 1940s, he had to drop the guitar due to an encounter with an outraged chorus girl in a Helena, Arkansas, nightspot when she knifed him, leaving him with severed tendons in his left arm. That dashed his guitar aspirations, but Pinetop came back strong from the injury, concentrating solely on piano from that point on.

Pinetop is known for holding down the piano chair in the great Muddy Waters Band for twelve years during the pinnacle of Muddy's career. Replacing Otis Spann in 1969, Pinetop helped shape the Waters sound and anchored Muddy's memorable combo throughout the '70s with his brilliant piano solos. In 1980, Pinetop and other members of Muddy's crew struck out on their own and formed the Legendary Blues Band--a group that recorded two records for Rounder and toured extensively, culling several Grammy nominations.

After being labeled a sideman for most of his career, Pinetop eventually left the Legendary Blues Band to concentrate on solo work. Within two years, he had cut his first domestic record as a frontman and pursued an ambitious tour schedule. He was featured on several nationally syndicated news and music programs, and appeared in numerous movie productions and TV and radio ads.

The great irony of Pinetop's career is that he didn't blossom as a headliner until his eighth decade on the blues scene--a phenomenon that resulted in the release of 15 solo records in 15 years, beginning in 1992. On his 1998 release, ``Legends,'' Pinetop collaborated with master blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin. Together, they blended the traditional Delta blues sound with modern electric blues rock, showcasing the spirit and energy of the music. ``Born in the Delta'' and ``Legends'' were both nominated for Grammy Awards--in 1997 and 2000 respectively. This was followed by a 2005 Grammy nomination for ``Ladies Man,'' released by MC Records. That same year, he was also presented with a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys.

Aside from his well-deserved Grammy recognition, Pinetop also received a National Heritage Fellowship in 2000 from the National Endowment for the Arts. He has been featured in the documentary ``Piano Blues,'' directed by Clint Eastwood for the Martin Scorsese PBS series, ``The Blues.'' In addition, he continued to win the Blues Music Award for best blues piano every year until 2003, when he was retired from the running and the award was renamed the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year.

In 2007, he was still on the road at 94 years old; Pinetop Perkins' unique life was chronicled in Peter Carlson's biographical documentary DVD, ``Born in the Honey,'' which includes a live CD with a rare studio outtake track.

``Pinetop Perkins and Friends'' released on Telarc, an independent classical recording company that crosses over to include blues and even jazz music. In that release by Telarc in the summer of 2008, Pinetop was positioned in the midst of several high-profile guests--all of whom have been influenced by his music in some way or another over the past several decades. Included on Pinetop's list of Friends were such luminaries as Eric Clapton, B.B. King and Jimmy Vaughan.

His latest recording is ``Joined at the Hip,'' a collaborative project with Willie ``Big Eyes'' Smith, released in June 2010. Pinetop also received a Grammy in 2010 for this collaborative project with Willie ``Big Eyes'' Smith for Best Traditional Blues CD.

Pinetop passed away on March 21, 2011, at the age of 97. When he passed away, he still had performances lined up for the year.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Joseph Willie ``Pinetop'' Perkins, a great blues legend from Mississippi's Second Congressional District.