Bill Text: MS SR14 | 2025 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Recognize Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band for 2025 Governor's Arts Award for Excellence in Traditional Arts.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-3)
Status: (Passed) 2025-01-30 - Adopted [SR14 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2025-SR14-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Horhn
Senate Resolution 14
(As Adopted by Senate)
A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE RECOGNITION OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE TO THE LEGACY AND COMMUNITY SERVICE OF THE RISING STARS FIFE AND DRUM BAND FROM COLDWATER, MISSISSIPPI, AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2025 GOVERNOR'S ARTS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TRADITIONAL ARTS.
WHEREAS, the Governor's Arts Award Program has announced its 2025 recipients, which include the Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band from Coldwater, Mississippi, as the 2025 recipient of the Excellence in Traditional Arts Award; and
WHEREAS, established in 1988, Governor's Arts Awards are given to individuals and organizations to recognize outstanding work in the artistic disciplines as well as arts-based community development and arts patronage in Mississippi. The awards are presented in partnership with the Governor's Office and signify the important relationship between government and the arts; and
WHEREAS, the Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band has kept the tradition of fife and drum musical expression alive and well for nearly 90 years. The art form has its roots in Mississippi, but has spread across the globe. Fife and drum music is mainly associated with Northern Mississippi and was popular during slavery and throughout the Civil War. Over one hundred years later, the father of Fife and Drum, Otha Turner, carried on the tradition during the 20th century. Today, his legacy lives on through the band led by his granddaughter, Shardé Thomas Mallory; and
WHEREAS, Mallory grew up hearing her grandfather play the fife with her brother and cousins playing drums. Mallory wanted in on the fun, so Turner made her a fife of her own. Today, Mallory continues the family tradition by performing with the fife her grandfather made for her as well as the one he played when he was alive; and
WHEREAS, the band's origins date back to the 1970s, when Turner played with Jessie Mae Hemphill and Abe Young. At that time, they called themselves the "Mississippi Fife and Drum Corps." Later, Turner formed the current band with his grandchildren, naming the group "Rising Star"; and
WHEREAS, after Turner's passing in 2003, Mallory decided to keep the band to introduce fife and drum music to another generation. They changed the band's name to "Rising Stars" because each member shines in their own way, creating not one but many rising stars. The band added more percussion to incorporate corps-style drumming techniques, faster tempos, and more pop music to its repertoire; and
WHEREAS, for over two decades, the Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band has been performing on the festival circuit and at venues, including the Cognac Passions Blues Festival, the National Museum of African American History and Culture's grand opening, and on university stages around the country. The band has traveled domestically and internationally, sharing this valuable art form in Europe and Africa; and
WHEREAS, their work culminated with the 2023 release of the album Evolution of Fife and Drum, which features an eclectic mixture of traditional fife and drum music, gospel, pop, blues, and elements of West African culture. The album won the Memphis Blues Society Best Self-Produced CD Competition in 2023; and
WHEREAS, the Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band has been a fixture in the long and strong legacy of Mississippi music and culture. The band's dedicated artists have served Mississippi communities by educating young people on the Mississippi musical tradition of fife and drum music and inspiring them to pursue their own artistic passions; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we pay tribute and express appreciation for the energy of a Mississippi traditional musical ensemble whose support of the arts has made Mississippi a better place and exemplifies the charitable and artistic/musical traditions of our great state:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we extend the recognition of the Mississippi Senate to the legacy and community service of the Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band from Coldwater, Mississippi, as the recipient of the 2025 Governor's Arts Award for Excellence in Traditional Arts and extend our congratulations to this outstanding musical organization on this auspicious occasion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
