H*4153 Resolution, By W.D. Keyserling
 A House Resolution to congratulate the Hallelujah Singers from Beaufort, South
 Carolina, on their invitation to perform at the annual Federation of State
 Humanities Councils Congressional Breakfast in Washington, D. C., on Thursday,
 May 6, 1993, and to express the gratitude of the members of the House of
 Representatives for this group's contributions to the arts and its celebration
 of South Carolina's Sea Island Heritage.

   04/28/93  House  Introduced and adopted HJ-19

A HOUSE RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE THE HALLELUJAH SINGERS FROM BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA, ON THEIR INVITATION TO PERFORM AT THE ANNUAL FEDERATION OF STATE HUMANITIES COUNCILS CONGRESSIONAL BREAKFAST IN WASHINGTON, D. C., ON THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1993, AND TO EXPRESS THE GRATITUDE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR THIS GROUP'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ARTS AND ITS CELEBRATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S SEA ISLAND HERITAGE.

Whereas, the Hallelujah Singers will be representing the State of South Carolina in performance at the annual "Humanities on the Hill", Congressional breakfast sponsored by the Federation of State Humanities Councils, Thursday, May 6, 1993, in Washington, D. C.; and

Whereas, the Hallelujah Singers were founded in Beaufort, South Carolina, in 1990 by educator and entertainer, Marlena McGhee-Smalls, to preserve plantation melodies and the storytelling unique to the Sea Islands surrounding Beaufort, South Carolina. Within a short time the ensemble became a major regional arts provider offering a diversity of programming to South Carolina residents and the thousands of tourists from around the country and abroad who visit South Carolina each year; and

Whereas, for this special occasion in Washington, which honors the great diversity of culture, history, and art in America and recognizes the importance of government support, the Hallelujah Singers will present "Sea Island Rituals", a performance of twenty-five vocalists and actors that combines songs and historical narration about the Sea Islands of South Carolina, its people, and where they came from; and

Whereas, interwoven with the music and narration will be miniature dramatizations of some of those unique personages - the Oyster Man, the Crab Man, and the Watermelon Man - individuals who played an important part in shaping the Gullah culture and whose influence lives on in our broader music and culture today; and

Whereas, this is a great honor for the Hallelujah Singers, for Beaufort, and for South Carolina.

For some years there has been a resurgence of interest in the Gullah language and culture in academic circles. Being invited to share this rich tradition with the nation's Congressional leaders will help to bring the living culture to every American. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina by this resolution wish to congratulate the Hallelujah Singers from Beaufort, South Carolina, and their artistic director Marlena McGhee-Smalls for the great honor of being invited to perform at the Annual Federation of State Humanities Councils Congressional Breakfast in Washington, D. C., on Thursday, May 6, 1993, and to express the gratitude of the members of the House of Representatives to the members of this singing group for their unique and substantial contribution to the arts and for leading the low country and our State in celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the South Carolina Sea Islands.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Marlena McGhee-Smalls, Artistic Director, Hallelujah Singers, P. O. Box 2083, Beaufort, South Carolina 29901.