Bill Text: MS SC515 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Honoring the Gospel music excellence of Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC's of Tupelo, Mississippi.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-3)
Status: (Passed) 2017-01-31 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC515 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2017-SC515-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Browning, Blackmon, Blount, DeBar, Frazier, Horhn, Jackson (11th), McMahan, Norwood, Simmons (12th), Simmons (13th), Stone, Turner-Ford, Witherspoon
Senate Concurrent Resolution 515
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION HONORING THE GOSPEL MUSIC EXCELLENCE OF LEE WILLIAMS & THE SPIRITUAL QC'S OF TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI, AND CONGRATULATING DR. LEE WILLIAMS UPON HIS RECEIPT OF AN HONORARY DOCTORATE OF SACRED MUSIC.
WHEREAS, for more than three decades, Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC's have recorded music that inspires both young and old worldwide. Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC's traditional Gospel sound captivates listeners, crossing all walks of life, ethnicity and denomination; and
WHEREAS, Lee Williams began performing Gospel music when he was eight years old, and inspired by his Uncle Mitchell Thornton of Tupelo, Mississippi, to pursue his gift of singing as a member of the "Gospel Stars" that included his two brothers, Frank Williams and Willie Thornton. Mitchell Thornton later organized the group called "The Spiritual QC's" in 1962 (QC's standing for "qualified Christian singers"), and when this group disbanded in 1968, Lee Williams took the name for his own group of which he also played bass guitar; and
WHEREAS, the Tupelo, Mississippi-based Spiritual QC's have existed in some form since 1968, but it wasn't until the late 1990s that they began recording and were recognized as a highly skilled Gospel traditional quartet. In the mid-1970s, two present-day Spiritual QC's joined the group: Leonard Shumpert, second lead vocalist (born in Fulton, Mississippi) and Al Hollis, lead guitarist (born in McRae, Georgia). It wasn't until 1998 that the group started billing lead singer "Lee Williams" ahead of the Spiritual QC's name. The group was successful with Billboard-charting albums released throughout the mid-2000s until the present; and
WHEREAS, in 1996, through connections with their friends, George Dean and the Gospel Four of Memphis, Tennessee, the Spiritual QC's recorded their first CD, "Jesus is Alive and Well"; and members of the Gospel Four provided instrumental support and George Dean produced that project that became an instant hit. A second album titled "Love Will Go All the Way" was recorded in 1998, with the group, now billed as "Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC's," touring extensively across the United States. In the year 2000, the path was set for the project titled "Good Time," which crashed into the Top Ten of the Billboard's Gospel Chart. Accolades poured in during the next year with honors such as: the Traditional Quartet of the Year at the Gospel Music Excellence Awards; being nominated for Best Gospel Album at the Soul Train Music Awards; and the 2010 James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Recipients at the 2010 Stellar Awards. Both projects titled "Right on Time" (2003) and "Tell the Angels" (2005) both peaked within the Top Five of the Billboard Gospel Chart. Although "Fall on Me" (2009) was the last studio effort to fare as well, the group continues to record regularly and perform up to 50 weeks out of a given year. The song titled "I Can't Give Up Now" is Lee Williams' personal testimony and one of the most requested songs in Mississippi that is also a testimony for others; and
WHEREAS, "Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC's" of Tupelo, Mississippi, is embraced across America and beyond; they work hard to give fans music that will inspire, encourage and empower the world to never give up. Lee Williams is humbled by the gift that God gave him at an early age and is quoted saying, "I never planned on any of this recognition and success. I was happy working Monday through Friday and playing music around the area on weekends. But when all this came about, I took it as God telling me it was time to drop everything else and go totally for Him, and that's what I've done. I've tried not to let it affect who I am, and if there have been any changes, I hope they've been changes for the better. I'm just doing my best to stay focused on what He would have me do." Congratulations also are in order for Dr. Lee Williams who received the Honorary Doctorate of Sacred Music from Bible Believers Christian College in California. Other members of "Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC's," Leonard Shumpert, Patrick Hollis and Al Hollis, were also celebrated with Certificates of Recognition in Sacred Music; and
WHEREAS, Lee Williams has been married to the former Annie Vaughn for 45 years. Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC's consist of nine members: JaMarques Green, Tommy Harris, al Hollis, Alton Hollis, Patrick Hollis, Leonard Shumpert, Derrick Thornton, Adarius Traylor, and Lee Williams; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize a group of citizen musicians who are unofficial Ambassadors for our state and who have presented to the world a positive image for the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby honor the Gospel music excellence of Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC's of Tupelo, Mississippi, and congratulate Dr. Lee Williams upon his receipt of an honorary Doctorate of Sacred Music, and extend our best wishes for their future successes.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC's, forwarded to the Mayor of Tupelo, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
