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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING HERBIE HANCOCK AND CELEBRATING THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY 2026 IN CHICAGO
WHEREAS, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed International Jazz Day in 2011 to recognize jazz as a force for peace, intercultural dialogue, artistic freedom, and mutual understanding; and
WHEREAS, the United Nations General Assembly formally recognized April 30 as International Jazz Day on the United Nations official calendar (Resolution A/RES/70/20), affirming jazz as a universal language of creativity, diplomacy, and global connection; and
WHEREAS, International Jazz Day is observed annually on April 30, engaging communities in more than 190 countries through education, performance, cultural exchange, and international collaboration; and
WHEREAS, Herbie Hancock, born April 12, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the most influential artists in modern music history and a global ambassador for culture, education, innovation, and artistic excellence; and
WHEREAS, a Chicago native and child prodigy, Herbie Hancock performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age eleven marking the beginning of a career that would redefine jazz and contemporary music worldwide; and
WHEREAS, Hancock’s groundbreaking work as a solo artist and as a member of the legendary Miles Davis Quintet, reshaped modern jazz through recordings such as ESP, Nefertiti, Sorcerer, and In a Silent Way; and
WHEREAS, his solo career produced iconic works including Takin’ Off, Maiden Voyage, Speak Like a Child, and Head Hunters, with Head Hunters becoming the first jazz album to achieve platinum status; and
WHEREAS, through compositions such as Watermelon Man, Chameleon, Rockit, and Maiden Voyage, Herbie Hancock pioneered the fusion of jazz, funk, electronic music, R&B, and popular culture, influencing generations of artists across musical genres; and
WHEREAS, Hancock has earned fourteen Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for River: The Joni Letters, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and an Academy Award for his film score for ’Round Midnight; and
WHEREAS, his honors include the Kennedy Center Honor, appointment as the Charles Eliot Norton Professor of Poetry at Harvard University, and international recognition for artistic and intellectual leadership; and
WHEREAS, Herbie Hancock serves as Chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, the world’s leading nonprofit dedicated to jazz education, mentorship, and the development of emerging artists; and
WHEREAS, as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, Herbie Hancock has championed music as a tool for peace, youth empowerment, cross-cultural understanding, and global cooperation; and
WHEREAS, in 2011, Herbie Hancock conceived and launched International Jazz Day as a global movement celebrating jazz as a symbol of freedom, innovation, dialogue, and shared humanity; and
WHEREAS, the year 2026 marks the 15th Anniversary of International Jazz Day, a milestone recognizing jazz’s enduring impact on culture, education, diplomacy, and artistic expression; and
WHEREAS, it is especially fitting that Chicago-Herbie Hancock’s birthplace and one of the world’s most influential jazz cities-has been selected to host the 2026 International Jazz Day global celebration; and
WHEREAS, under Herbie Hancock’s leadership, UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz will present the 2026 All-Star Global Concert at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, welcoming world-renowned artists and audiences from more than 190 nations; and
WHEREAS, this historic celebration honors both the legacy of jazz and Chicago’s central role in shaping American music, while recognizing Herbie Hancock’s extraordinary contributions to global culture, education, technology, and the arts; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby honors Herbie Hancock for his transformative contributions to music, education, cultural diplomacy, and global artistic innovation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners proudly commemorates the 15th Anniversary of International Jazz Day 2026 in Chicago, celebrating the power of jazz to unite people across nations, generations, and cultures. This Resolution recognizes Herbie Hancock as a distinguished son of Chicago whose visionary leadership, artistic brilliance, and commitment to peace and education continue to inspire the world; and that suitable copies of this Resolution be presented to Herbie Hancock, UNESCO, the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, and appropriate cultural and civic institutions as a symbol of the County’s respect and appreciation.
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