Norton Introduces Resolution Designating August 22nd as ‘Chuck Brown Day’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Chuck Brown's birthday, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a resolution designating August 22, as "Chuck Brown Day" in the District of Columbia and across the nation in honor of his contributions as the "Godfather of Go-Go."
"Chuck Brown is ubiquitous with D.C., and helped make Go-Go music what it is today," Norton said. "Like Louis Armstrong with New Orleans and Chuck Berry with St. Louis, Chuck Brown is an artist who helped define his city by making Go-go music the heartbeat of D.C. I will always look back fondly at the free concert he performed 15 years ago in front of the Capitol for statehood and voting rights for D.C. residents. His contributions to D.C. and the nation should be celebrated with a day in his honor."
The full text of the resolution follows.
H. RES.___
Expressing support for the designation of August 22, 2025, as ‘‘Chuck Brown Day’’, and honoring Chuck Brown’s contributions to music and to the District of Columbia.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Ms. NORTON submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on____
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the designation of August 22, 2025, as ‘‘Chuck Brown Day’’, and honoring Chuck Brown’s contributions to music and to the District of Columbia.
Whereas Chuck Brown is known as the ‘‘Godfather of Go- Go’’ because he was the major architect of the musical genre known as ‘‘go-go’’, a unique mix of funk, soul, and Latin party sounds, whose popularity continues today;
Whereas Chuck Brown, who was born on August 22, 1936, and passed away at the age of 75 on May 16, 2012, was a resident of the District of Columbia most of his life;
Whereas Chuck Brown, who taught himself to play guitar, became a virtuoso singer, songwriter, guitarist, and band leader;
Whereas Chuck Brown’s go-go beat gave the District of Columbia a musical identity of its own and reminds the Nation that the District of Columbia has always been the hometown of talented artists;
Whereas Chuck Brown’s musical catalog spans 22 studio al- bums over 3 decades;
Whereas Chuck Brown’s hit ‘‘Bustin’ Loose’’, with his group, the Soul Searchers, was the top song on the Billboard Top 100 R&B Chart for 4 weeks in 1979;
Whereas Chuck Brown earned a Grammy nomination in 2010 for the song ‘‘Love’’, from his album entitled ‘‘We Got This’’, and was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship in 2005;
Whereas Chuck Brown’s go-go has been passed from generation to generation with undiminished popularity;
Whereas Chuck Brown influenced jazz, rap, and go-go musicians, such as the bands Trouble Funk, Rare Essence, and Experience Unlimited (also known as ‘‘E.U.’’);
Whereas Chuck Brown was so committed to securing state- hood and equal voting rights for the residents of the District of Columbia that he played a concert on a very hot, humid day on the United States Capitol Grounds in 2010;
Whereas the District of Columbia has named a street located near the historic Howard Theatre for Chuck Brown;
Whereas the District of Columbia has named a park located at 2901 20th Street NE, for Chuck Brown;
Whereas go-go is the official music of the District of Columbia;
Whereas Chuck Brown is admired for having risen from humble beginnings and overcoming time in prison to be- come a devoted father and family man;
Whereas Chuck Brown was a great, multitalented musician who brought joy through his music, never stopping until his death; and
Whereas August 22, 2025, is Chuck Brown’s birthday: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the designation of ‘‘Chuck Brown Day’’, and honors Chuck Brown’s contributions to music and to the District of Columbia.
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