Bill > CER26-0042

This resolution recognizes the 50th anniversary of the Blackbyrds, a jazz-funk musical ensemble formed at Howard University under the leadership of Dr. Donald Byrd. The resolution highlights the band's significant musical achievements, including their hit songs "Happy Music" and "Walking in Rhythm," which received a Grammy nomination and sold over one million copies. The Blackbyrds are celebrated for their innovative sound that blended jazz, funk, soul, and rhythm and blues, and for their lasting impact on hip-hop culture, with many of their tracks being sampled by prominent artists like Tupac Shakur and Nas. The resolution specifically acknowledges the band's song "Rock Creek Park" as an anthem of Washington, DC, and praises the living band members Keith Killgo and Joe Hall as treasured DC natives. By commemorating the Blackbyrds' musical legacy, the resolution emphasizes their role in shaping the District of Columbia's cultural identity and musical heritage over the past five decades.

https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/CER26-0042