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Proclaiming the Week of April 22, 2018 to April 29, 2018 as Recognizing Excellence in Philadelphia’s Music and Cultural History Week.
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WHEREAS, The Global Entertainment Media Arts (G.E.M.A.) Foundation’s mission is dedicated to the preservation and documentation of the musical and cultural arts of America. The G.E.M.A. Foundation actively provides the right platforms for artistic and creative works to be viewed, performed, shared, and distributed worldwide; and
WHEREAS, The G.E.M.A. Foundation preserves the traditions of American culture by capturing audio-visual recordings, digital documentations, and pictorials and archiving these unique performances, methods, styles, and techniques of these treasured and talented artistic creators to be shared with future generations; and
WHEREAS, Artistic outlets are one of the most important ways in which we influence the world and create and shape our environment. The G.E.M.A. Foundation selects and provides the appropriate platforms for these artistic expressions, performances, interviews, and educational presentations to be experienced and enjoyed by a global audience; and
WHEREAS, A major element of Philadelphia’s music and cultural history is its heritage of classic dance, jazz, R&B, and Northern Soul music. The upbeat dance music originating from funk, soul, and jazz influences was originally popular with Afro-American, Latin American, and LGBT populations and helped empower the Civil Rights Movement; and
WHEREAS, These genres of music produced some of the most popular songs and artists of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Predominantly Afro-American and Latino classic dance, R&B, and Northern Soul artists dominated the clubs and airwaves and began to have crossover appeal on mainstream media outlets with mostly white audiences. Philadelphia-based groups like LaBelle and Sister Sledge helped lead this charge; and
WHEREAS, The image of classic dance, jazz, R&B, and Northern Soul music in the 1960s and 1970s was well-known and established by Cameo Parkway Records, Arctic Records, Swan Records, Philadelphia International Records, and WMOT (We Men of Talent) Records. These companies were all Philadelphia-based, and each one helped distinguish and brand Philadelphia as a major music market within the global entertainment arts industry; and
WHEREAS, Classic dance, jazz, R&B, and Northern Soul genres have taken on new lives. The happiness and joy in the music has transcended the decades and resurfaced in television and film productions, clubs, and new music by contemporary artists that samples the original tracks; and
WHEREAS, With a focus on honoring Philadelphia’s heritage of classic dance, jazz, R&B, and Northern Soul music, the G.E.M.A. Foundation will host Recognizing Excellence in Philadelphia’s Music and Cultural History Week. The week’s agenda includes special events, educational activities, interview presentations, and performances; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it declares the week of April 22, 2018 to April 29, 2018 as Recognizing Excellence in Philadelphia’s Music and Cultural History Week.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of the resolution be presented to the Global Entertainment Media Arts Foundation, further evidencing the sincere support and admiration of this legislative body.
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