Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and mourn a great American in my district. His name is Joe Sample. He made people happy by the wonderful jazz that he played. Born in 1939, in his high school he joined with fellow students and created the Jazz Crusaders. In doing so, he enjoyed a wonderful career that saw him working with people such as Miles Davis, George Benson, Jimmy Witherspoon, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, and the Supremes. He incorporated jazz in many things that he did, but he also understood gospel, blues, Latin, and the classical form. In talking to his family this week, and to his family and his wife, I give them my deepest sympathy. He said he was proud of his gospel music album. We are saddened that he has lost his life in his battle against lung cancer. I am delighted to salute him as a great American who shared his talent with young people, who was kind to those with whom he grew up, who made Texas proud, and certainly is renowned throughout this great community of Houston and the Nation. Starting the piano at 5, Joe Sample never left his love of music and always tried to share it and be a representative of the value of what music is to children and the American people. I ask this Congress to acknowledge with me this great hero, Joe Sample, a musician, an American, someone who we can be proud of that lived good in this country. ____________________”