RESOLUTION NO. 030135

Congratulating Claude Fiddler Williams on his 95th birthday.

WHEREAS, on Sunday, February 16, 2003, a program will be held at the American Jazz Museum in the Blue Room for the celebration of Claude Fiddler Williams 95th birthday. All Kansas City Jazz Musicians including the Elder Statesmen of Jazz will participate in recognizing the Fiddler; and

WHEREAS, the Fiddler has performed for the past 80 years with such greats as the Twelve Clouds of Joy, the Cole Brothers, featuring a young Nat King Cole, the Count Basie Band and many others; and

WHEREAS, the Fiddler has received numerous awards over the years with a few being the Lynn Riggs Award 2001, Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors Excellence Award 2000, Lifetime Achievement Award 2000, was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in 1989, the Coleman Hawkins Award 1999 and many others; and

WHEREAS, the Fiddler has performed all over the world from New York to Germany and Australia and now is performing with the Statesmen of Jazz at the United Nations Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium, with the Statesmen of Jazz in Boca Raton, Florida, the Vision Fest in New York, the K.C. Blues & Jazz Fest, Tony Williams Jazz Fest in New Jersey. He also performs with the K.C. Musicians at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby congratulate Claude Fiddler Williams on his 95th birthday; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to Claude Fiddler Williams in recognition of the many years of musical, civic and charitable spirit given to our community.

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