LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Horace Bennie Samuels II as he is
honored by the Imani Singers of Medgar Evers College at its Annual Night
of Honor on May 4, 2012

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that individuals who
distinguish themselves in service to their faith and community merit the
highest commendation; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Horace Bennie Samuels II as he is honored by the Imani Singers of Medgar
Evers College, the college's renowned resident choir, at its Annual
Night of Honor to be held at the college on Friday, May 4, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Each year at this Black Tie event, the Imani Singers of
Medgar Evers College honors and pays tribute to outstanding sacred music
church musicians in the Brooklyn community; and
WHEREAS, Horace Bennie Samuels II, affectionately known as HB, Minis-
ter of Music at St. Paul Community Baptist Church, truly merits this
high honor; and
WHEREAS, HB Samuels II, a native New Yorker, is a Music Teacher at the
Westbury High School in Old Westbury, New York, and the Director of
Sacred Music of the Saint Paul Community Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New
York; he is also the former Choral Director at C. Leon King Senior High
School in Tampa, Florida, where his presence prompted the vocal music
department's enrollment to increase from forty-five to over one hundred
and ten students; and
WHEREAS, HB Samuels is a well-trained and accomplished keyboardist,
choral conductor and music educator; he has studied at some of the
world's finest musical institutions including the renowned Juilliard
School of Music, the Aaron Copeland School of Music, York College, and
Five Towns College in Dix Hills, New York, where he earned a bachelor's
and a master's degree; on the Dean's list, he was the first person at
the college to earn a bachelor's degree in Music Education and, he is
currently working toward a doctorate in ministry with a concentration in
sacred music at the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio; and
WHEREAS, From 1982-1999, HB Samuels II was employed by the New York
City Board of Education; during his twelve years at the Springfield
Gardens High School he served in many capacities; under his creative
tutelage, the SGHS Gospel Ensemble earned first place twice, second
place twice and third place twice in the National Music Caucus' Gospel
Choir Competition; also while at SGHS, he was the Musical/Vocal Director
for the school's productions of The Wiz, Grease, Annie and Joseph; and
WHEREAS, HB Samuels II's resume reads like the who's who of the music
industry; he was the keyboardist for Grammy Award recipient Donnie
McClurkin and has performed with Patti LaBelle, Jonathon Butler, the
late David Piston and Phil Driscoll; he has also performed with The Duke
Ellington Orchestra and The Queens Symphony Orchestra and conducted a
musical featuring members of the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the
Birmingham Youth Symphony; and
WHEREAS, Married to the former Valerie Betts, HB Samuels II is the
proud father of four children: James Benjamin, Tiffany Monique, Horace
Benjamin, III, and Brittany Monae, and the grandfather of six year old
Eryn Monae Solomon; and
WHEREAS, HB Samuels II has distinguished himself in his profession and
in service to his faith and community and is worthy of the recognition
and appreciation of this Legislative Body and the citizens of the great
State of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Horace Bennie Samuels II as he is honored by the Imani Singers
of Medgar Evers College at its Annual Night of Honor on Friday, May 4,
2012; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Horace Bennie Samuels II.