Officials, community pay tribute to jazz luminaries during celebration
Family, friends, and the community recently gathered to pay tribute to four outstanding individuals who have made profound contributions to jazz music and their respective communities. Kathleen Bertrand, West Byrd, Jorel “JFly” Flynn, and Mike Phillips received honors during the special event, which was held in the Senate chambers at the Georgia State Capitol as part of African American Music Appreciation Month. The honorees received recognition from the Atlanta City Council, the Georgia General Assembly, the Georgia Secretary of State, and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
District 11 Council member Marci Collier Overstreet presented each honoree with a proclamation, one of the highest honors given by the Atlanta City Council, in recognition of their talents as musicians and public service in their respective communities, as well as to the city of Atlanta as a whole.
“Art and music make life better for everyone,” Overstreet said. “These are not just jazz artists. They are actually community servants, so it was important that they receive awards for that as well.”
African American Music Month takes place every June. It was originally created in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter to celebrate the musical influence which African Americans have had on the numerous musical genres which define the cultural fabric of America. Genres such as jazz, gospel, hip-hop, and so many others owe their existence to the contributions of African-Americans, and by honoring this month and these individuals, the City of Atlanta and the State of Georgia are paying a great respect to the contributions of those who have helped to form the soundtrack of our nation.
State Senator Sonya Halpern and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger presented each honoree with the Outstanding Georgia Citizen Award, the highest honor given on the state level to any civilian.
The Office of Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones also presented each honoree with a token of their appreciation, with these awards being given by his Director of Constituent Services, Denise Sampson.
As each honoree received their awards, they were invited to give acceptance speeches. Mike Phillips opted to speak to the crowd through the universal language of music, playing a soulful rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” on his saxophone, which brought everyone in the chamber to their feet, and reminded each person in attendance of the power that music holds.
Much of the ceremony revolved around not only the musical abilities of the honorees, but also their charitable and volunteering efforts within the community. As each proclamation and award was read, a great emphasis was placed upon these efforts in the community, and the importance of giving back to the City of Atlanta, and especially the next generation of youth.
“We’re here, just making sure that we’re honoring those that really pour so much into our communities, in the way of music,” Overstreet said. “Music is a universal language… It’s known throughout the world, and it is the basis of how we feel and how we go about our days, our everyday lives. And these are true servants, and we’re happy to honor them today.”
