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Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.4036 Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution CR Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19990505 Primary Sponsor:G. Brown All Sponsors:G. Brown Drafted Document Number:l:\council\bills\gjk\20654sd99.doc Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19990506 Subject:Bill Pinkney, Resolutions History Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ ______________________________________ _______ ____________ House 19990506 Received from Senate Senate 19990506 Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence House 19990505 Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate Versions of This Bill
TO COMMEND BILL PINKNEY, A NATIVE OF DALZELL WHO NOW LIVES IN SUMTER, FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARILY SUCCESSFUL FORTY-SIX YEAR MUSICAL AND ENTERTAINMENT CAREER AS A VOCAL ARTIST AND AS THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE ORIGINAL "DRIFTERS".
Whereas, Bill Pinkney is a native son of South Carolina, born in Dalzell, and now living in Sumter; and
Whereas, he volunteered for the United States Army at age seventeen and took part in the Normandy Invasion, fighting his way across Europe, earning four Bronze Stars and a Presidential Citation; and
Whereas, after the war, Bill Pinkney became an outstanding player with the New York Blue Sox of the Negro Baseball League; and
Whereas, while in New York, Bill Pinkney and others, including renowned South Carolina vocal artist the late Brook Benton, first formed and performed as "The Southern Knights" gospel quartet; and
Whereas, shortly thereafter, he met and became friends with well-known vocalist, the late Clyde McPhatter, and together they founded "The Drifters" vocal group; and
Whereas, "The Drifters", beginning with the song "Money Honey" on the Atlantic label in 1953 became one of the most beloved, durable, prolific, and popular rhythm and blues groups the world has ever known; and
Whereas, even today almost forty-six years later, Bill Pinkney, as leader of "Bill Pinkney and the Original Drifters", continues to entertain, enthrall, and delight audiences and fans, and as such, continues as an outstanding ambassador of good will from the Palmetto State; and
Whereas, his music has been and continues to be a positive force for bringing together people of diverse background, race, religion, sex, and age; and
Whereas, Bill Pinkney has never lost or forsaken his deep roots, embracing love of God and love of country, and regularly includes gospel and patriotic selections in his performances; and
Whereas, he has been awarded "The Order of the Palmetto", the highest civilian award bestowed by the State of South Carolina, and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the South Carolina Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame; and
Whereas, a public park in Dalzell has been developed and named in his honor; and
Whereas, this year, Bill Pinkney is celebrating the forty-sixth anniversary of the founding of "The Drifters"; and
Whereas, he has led an exemplary life of dedication as a soldier patriot, gospel vocalist, athlete, and popular music superstar and legend; and
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, would like to honor this extraordinary American and South Carolinian for his truly exemplary career which has touched the lives of countless individuals throughout the world. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, commend Bill Pinkney, a native of Dalzell who now lives in Sumter, for his extraordinarily successful forty-six year musical and entertainment career as a vocal artist and as the co-founder of the original "Drifters".
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Bill Pinkney.
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