2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 41
BY SENATOR FIELDS
A RESOLUTION
To commend Mr. Clarence Jones Jr. upon the occasion of his 80th birthday and being the
founder and director of the local, national, and internationally recognized Heritage
Festival of Negro Spirituals.
WHEREAS, as the oldest of nine children, he was born to Clarence Jones Sr. and
Rosetta Gash Jones on April 21, 1943, on Utah Street in Berwick, Louisiana, and moved to
Morgan City at the age of three; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jones received a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Music and a Master of
Educational Leadership from Southern University (SU) and further certification from
Louisiana State University (LSU); and
WHEREAS, the merging of Mr. Jones' hobbies (playing the piano and singing), his
educational experiences, and his love for his Lord produced a versatile, gifted musician and
educator whose performing, composing, and conducting skills would unquestionably
document his reputation as an amazing artist; and
WHEREAS, in sharing his God-given blessings with others, he created a nonprofit
professional choral ensemble in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, named the Heritage Festival of
Negro Spirituals to perpetuate Negro Spirituals as a distinctive art form and to fulfill the
need of restoring and preserving its legacy; and
WHEREAS, Negro Spirituals are the first indigenous musical form created by
African slaves upon arriving on American shores which have been inspired by some
memorable event or personality in the Bible; and
WHEREAS, the Negro Spiritual is valuable as music but also as a complete
expression of a race to whom religion is a vital reality; and
WHEREAS, since 1991, on the first Saturday in February, the signature event has
been the Annual Festival of Negro Spirituals at which local churches, Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and various community choirs have participated; and
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WHEREAS, this annual event has been hosted at Mt. Zion First Baptist Church in
Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Heritage Festival of Negro Spirituals' slogan, "No place or audience has
been too large or small, too near or far for us to perform", has resulted in them performing
before a plethora of local, national, and international audiences, such as various venues
throughout Louisiana; Chicago, IL; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA; Atlanta, GA; Hampton,
VA; Mexico City, Mexico; Paris, France; the America Church in Paris; in England; and
before Pope John Paul II; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jones' career has been full of accomplishments; he is most proud
of his family, being a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother; and
WHEREAS, we celebrate and cherish Mr. Clarence Jones Jr. for sharing his eighty
years of life through his music, education, and Negro Spirituals which are an eloquent
expression of human experiences.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Mr. Clarence Jones Jr. upon the occasion of his 80th birthday and for
being the founder and director of the Heritage Festival of Negro Spirituals, and hereby
record for posterity his God given gift of music which he shared with all who would listen.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Mr. Clarence Jones Jr.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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