The New Funk Law

[BuffaloBass]

I;m bringing over a sidebar from "Funk 101" in recordings.

DW Bass didnt know what he gots hisself into when he gave a man of action an idea, a great, great idea....

From the old thread


"DW, please forgive me for treading on this thread, I dont really know where to take this " sidebar" discussion.

Gents, this is going to be an easy kill, methinks. I'm going to write a "tag on" to this piece of RECENT legislation. Check out all the cosponsors:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/.../~c110OkXYrm::

Ah dang, thats a search function, its HRES 198 IH

Anyone know the rep from Texas, Rep Al Green?

Let me know what forum to continue in, since this is out in left field in " Recordings".

I really want to post up Chocolate City, being that I'm in "homo politicus" mode!

" You hear me CC!? Whats'up BLACK! " I dig that stuff man.

You feeling radical yet there DW!?

Peace. Out."



So what I'm up to is to construct an add on to HR 198, which is an "amorphous" recognition of Black History Month with a more permanent and defined resoultion to give the four weeks of February a musical color.

In chronological order

Blues - Jazz - Soul - Funk

So that in the context of Black History month, we could have OFFICIALLY the four weeks of Feb earmarked for a specific genre of American music where Black Americans were either principal contributors or seminal to the genre.

The four genres is my idea, whereas me and the boys were just thinking of a FUNK day or a FUNK WEEK.

It is my measured opinion that we might actually get this ship off the ground if we were to broaden it out some and encompass the whole month.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

The House of Reps has a better chance of getting it done. My guy Higgins, is a co sponsor of HR 198. Rep Emmauel Cleaver from MO is the sponsor.

So I was going to ask Dr. Cheese for a favor!

It'll take a few of us to get this mission done.

You can read more of the origin of DW Bass's idea in teh FUNK 101 thread, in recordings.

Dont think DW Bass knew he was puttin' an old airborne dog on a hot trail. Relentless and tireless am I on a trail.

Will have a draft by Monday, I'll post it here for review. Any insights, musicians groups we can sign on, etc are VERY helpful.


Peace. Out.

[BuffaloBass]

Hmmmm no advice huh. Bummer dudes. Nevertheless, I'll finish up the draft on tnhe flight back from London. anyone want a peek PM me. Going to Congress this week.

[BuffaloBass]

Big arse cut and paste, since I cant figure how to host a word doc.

DRAFT HR RESOLUTION Number ____________


Resolution to designate specific days/weeks during Black History Month as “ America Celebrates The [Music Genre] Days”.

Whereas the contribution of Black Americans to music history, the body of world music, and the aspects of American music culture so appreciated by others

Whereas the uniqueness of the musical genres Blues, Jazz, Soul, and Funk stem in some part from the struggle of Black Americans and we can follow the history of the struggle of Black Americans through a musical timeline and moving cities of influence

Whereas African Americans were enslaved in the United States and subsequently faced the injustices of of mobs, terror, segregation and denial of basic human rights ( HR198)

Whereas in the face of these injustices Black Americans made significant contributions to the religious, economic, political, education and as we celebrate here through the contributions to music, the cultural landscape of this Great Land, ( HR 198) an integral and much celebrated “face” of American beyond Her borders

Whereas the musical genre of Blues came early in African American/ Black American history, rooted in the South, where the mournful wails of “work songs” often filled the air, so we designate the first week or thereabouts of Black History Month as “ America Celebrates the Blues” week

Whereas the musical genre of Jazz came up a bit later as Black Americans were becoming more integrated into the American landscape and the migration North begins and small increments of freedom show in the music, so we designate the second week of Black History Month, or thereabouts, as “America Celebrates Jazz” week

Whereas the musical genre Soul or Rhythm and Blues from Gospel Roots, shows the cultural , but not yet political , integration of Black Americans into the Majestic Tapestry which is this Great Nation by achieving widespread acclaim from all sectors of our population showing no boundaries of race, religion , or economic standing, and from coast to coast, so we designate the third week of Black History Month as “ America Celebrates Soul” week

Whereas the musical genre of Funk is youngest amongst the genres and came up just after the political awakening of Black Americans and implementation of basic civil rights and is a music that embodies political empowerment, resepct for self, respect for others, and the primacy of individual freedom, emanating from the Northern industrial centers of this great land, so we designate the fourth week of Black History Month or thereabouts as “America Celebrates The Funk” week.

Whereas music historian Richard Vincent documents one of the first, if not the first, Funk ensemble originating in the great city of Buffalo, so we designate Buffalo, New York as one of the “ Official Birthplaces of Funk”, along with the great city of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Whereas the month of February is officially celebrated as Black History month, which dates back to 1926 when Dr. Carter G. Woodson set aside a special time to celebrate the heritage and achievement of Black Americans, so we designate each week to a special celebration of the musical contributions of Black Americas as a framework for global recognition events of these indigenous American genres of music

Resolved that 1.) we designate the first week, or thereabouts, of Black History Month as America Celebrates The Blues week; the second week, or thereabouts, of Black History Month as America Celebrates Jazz week; the third week or thereabouts of Black History Month , as America Celebrates Soul week; the fourth week, or thereabouts , of Black History Month as America Celebrates The Funk week, to provide all citizens with a framework to organize celebrations to honor the contributions of Black Americans to world musicand the culture of Our Great Nation and, 2.) we designate the cities of Buffalo NY and Cincinatti Ohio, as " The Birthplaces Of Funk ".

Eugene P. Chaas, aka BuffaloBass

Submitting this week to two local Congressmen...

[DWBass]

Great job BB! Let's get this thing cracking!

[BuffaloBass]

THNX David, I see some grammar issues already like wear vs where.

I swear to y'all the nuns that taught me English at the madressa are rollin' in thier graves, Lord bless 'em.

Just a draft yet, but I gotta get it out ASAP.

[unclejam]

Make my funk the P-Funk! I wants to get funked up

[BuffaloBass]

ABSOLUTELY, almost wanted to use Pfunk in the Cincy reference! ( but dont think it proper for a law )

Anyone know Mr. Ricky Vincent personally? he HAS to see this as his name is being " used in vain". I know Dr. Woodson is cool with it, angels done whispered in my ear, but Ricky is still alive and harder to communicate with.

Just so its known, professional "drafters" get this and redo it, so the final version...? is anyone's guess.

For me personally, I'm just a-wishing DWBass, The FunkFather here at TB, might consider me for a promotion out of "junior grade" if our Paper Airplane flys onto the MotherShip! WHich, com'on man, read that baby, its gonna FLY!

I've already edited the final paragraph, the resolution part,took out " Blacks" and replaced with the proper " Black Americans", etc.Funny, you write these things like one long arse run-on sentence. Edits are above.

The nuns are a turning and smilin' !

Sent Ricky Vincent a message via myspace. Man needs to BLess this before I ship it out !

[BuffaloBass]

Sent it all in today, February 14th.

[BuffaloBass]

I'm hoping, for other reasons, that when we can "smell BO in da big white house", our Senators and Reps from New York stumble over themselves giving up teh New Funk Law.

Heck man, to get all crazy nuts about it, since we speak of the "export of American culture", and this can be construed as a projection of US foreign policy, wouldn't it be cool to submit a requests, on the heels of the New Funk Law, to send out, maybe every February, a big FUNK TEAM, to do gigs aroudn the globe.

Nuts, huh? Moreso, I would request the same funding as two US Special Forces A teams, or Seal Teams gets for a month long assignment. Then we would try and weigh the "efficacy of projection" between the two. Not to diss our branve young men and women, but to show Capitol Hill that there is ANOTHER way of projecting US influence. Not by force, but by The Funk. ( and Jazz, and Blues...) Pullin' them along, rather than pushin' 'em. Works better. Has permanence. Witness the NY Philharmonics trip to NK land - the orignal evil empire. Stuff works man.

We'd have to play a hot spot or two. For the troops once, fa sure. So unlike the honroable Senator from NY, we might actually have to dodge some sniper bullets when we set up in Beirut. But you know what, on the road delivering The Funk...... I'd take the chance... ( I aint gonna be the bassist, but the security guy)

I smell a big NEA grant on the heels of this - funding a FUNK TROUPE. A dream.

[dancehallclasher]

I don't think Beirut is that dangerous right now.

[BuffaloBass]

Hey, traveling around with a band of Yanqui Gypsies could be dangerous anywhere anymore. Dont matter none. Sitting home is safe, and living death.

[uethanian]

...i am beyond confused.

[BuffaloBass]

Nothing to be about. NFL is a draft legislation which we hope to get to the floor of COngress simply designating certain weeks in Black history month as musical genre appreciation weeks. " America Celeberates The Funk", etc.

The whole Funk troupe was just a daydream I was having. A grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to sponsor a funk troupe to go out and do some " goodwill" shows across the globe - promoting U.S. culture. Kinda like putting SLAVE on the road internationally for a goodwill tour, carrying the torch of freeedom and self expression.