HR0726LRB098 17737 GRL 52855 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to congratulate  Black Mary for her work in 
4keeping dusty music alive; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Black Mary was born on April 14, 1941; she grew up 
6on Maxwell Street and later moved to Cabrini Green in Chicago; 
7she attended Marshall High School; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Black Mary served as a registered nurse for 40 
9years; following her retirement, she continues to work 
10part-time at a nursing facility; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Black Mary was a member of the Dancettes; she 
12later left that group to form the Original Old Timers, which 
13she has maintained for many years; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, With the advent of disco in the 1970s, most 
15establishments stopped playing dusty music; through great 
16determination, Black Mary began to ask club owners to play 
17dusty music; finding no club that would do so, she developed a 
18beautiful dusty set every first Sunday of the month in 
19locations throughout Chicago; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Thanks to Black Mary's persistence, dusty music 
 
 
HR0726- 2 -LRB098 17737 GRL 52855 r

1has seen a new renaissance, with "The World's Largest Stepping 
2Contest", "Steppin' at Club 7", "Can You Step with Me?", and 
3the Steppin' movie and play all being staged and/or filmed in 
4the City of Chicago; around 60 new steppers clubs have also 
5been opened in the Chicagoland area; therefore, be it
  
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
7NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
8we congratulate Black Mary for her work in keeping dusty music 
9alive and wish her continued success and happiness in the 
10future; and be it further
  
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
12presented to Black Mary as a symbol of our esteem and respect.