Senate Resolution No. 1998

BY: Senator MONTGOMERY

COMMENDING Willie Winfield for 65 years of
distinguished service to the music industry,
celebrated on June 1, 2019 by Bethel Baptist Church

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay
just tribute to those musical geniuses whose commitment and creative
talents contributed to the entertainment and cultural enrichment of
their community, the State of New York, and the entire Nation; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Willie Winfield for 65 years of distinguished service to the
music industry, celebrated on Saturday, June 1, 2019 by Bethel Baptist
Church; he will officially retire after an illustrious career which
traversed more than six decades; and

WHEREAS, A longtime resident of Brooklyn, New York, Willie Winfield,
a child of the 1950s, fell in love with and dedicated his life to music;
and

WHEREAS, Willie Winfield was the lead singer of the Harptones, an
American doo-wop group which formed in Manhattan in 1953; the group
recorded under various labels, including Coed Records, and their best
known songs include, "A Sunday Kind of Love" (1953), "Why Should I Love
You?" (1954), "Life is But a Dream" (1955), "The Shrine of St. Cecilia"
(1956), and "What Will I Tell My Heart" (1961); and

WHEREAS, In 1956, the Harptones recorded, "Mambo Boogie", "Ou Wee
Baby", and "High Flying Baby" for the film, "Rockin' the Blues"; in
addition, the song, "Life is But a Dream" was featured in the 1990 film,
"Goodfellas", and can be found on its soundtrack album; and

WHEREAS, The proud recipient of numerous awards and accolades,
Willie Winfield was named the Ambassador of Doo Wop by the United in
Group Harmony Association (UGHA); he also received two Lifetime
Achievement Awards, the Doo Wop Shop Award, and is a 2019 inductee of
the East Coast Music Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, With a steadfast and unremitting commitment to his
community, Willie Winfield performed countless free concerts at Wingate
Park, Metro Tech Center, Prospect Park, the Coney Island Bandshell, and
MCU Park; and

WHEREAS, Willie Winfield is a longtime congregant of Bethel Baptist
Church of Brooklyn, New York, who honored his legacy by proclaiming June
1, 2019, as Willie Winfield Day; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay just
tribute to the many accomplishments of musical greats such as Willie
Winfield, whose prominent career will forever live in the hearts of many
and continue to inspire generations to come; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Willie Winfield for 65 years of distinguished service to the
music industry, celebrated on June 1, 2019 by Bethel Baptist Church; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Willie Winfield.