2025 -- S 0223
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
HONORING RANDALL ASHE FOR HIS EXCELLENCE AS A JAZZ MUSICIAN,
THEATER PERFORMER, AND FOR HIS LONG CAREER OF PUBLIC SERVICE
Introduced By: Senator Tiara T. Mack
Date Introduced: February 10, 2025
Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
WHEREAS, Randall Ashe is a talented jazz musician who has used his extraordinary 1
abilities to not only entertain people, but to break the barriers of racism and poverty to improve 2
the lives of countless people who have been blessed to be in his presence and to interact with him; 3
and 4
WHEREAS, Randall Ashe was born in Providence, where he attended Providence public 5
schools, the Community College of Rhode Island, and the Berklee College of Music in Boston; 6
and 7
WHEREAS, As an especially talented and gifted young musician and theater performer, 8
Mr. Ashe traveled from the age of 13 throughout the Northeast, playing his music in venues of all 9
sizes in places like Newport and Montreal, with groups and entertainers such as Trio Lac, Earl 10
“Father” Hines, Bill Doggett, Big Mama Thornton, Max Roach, and other influential musicians; 11
and 12
WHEREAS, Randall Ashe’s gift for performing also extended to the theater. At the age 13
of 13, he performed at the Providence Playhouse, with roles in three of their productions, 14
including Finian’s Rainbow, Native Son, and Tobacco Road. Tragically, the specter of racism 15
that he often faced while performing his music at various nightclub venues, would rise up again 16
when the Providence City leaders in 1953 shut down the production of Tobacco Road due to its 17
theme of interracial romance; and 18
WHEREAS, In spite of the overwhelming racism, Mr. Ashe persevered, and thanks to the 19
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superb mentorship and tutelage he received from talented artists such as George Geer on the 1
drums, Camillo Naclerio on the Saxophone, and Joe Viola of the Berklee College of Music, 2
Randall Ashe’s career soon thrived and he would perform regularly at the top nightclubs and 3
venues in the Rhode Island area; and 4
WHEREAS, Beginning in the 1970s, and on into the 1980s, Mr. Ashe transitioned his 5
career from performing to being an Arts Administrator, television producer, and manager of 6
performers. In 1970, Mr. Ashe accepted a position to serve as the inaugural Musical Director for 7
the Afro Arts Center, and he used his connections to the performers supporting the War on 8
Poverty, to bring world class musical performers to Providence. Hall of Fame performers such as 9
Earth, Wind, and Fire, and Curtis Mayfield all performed in Providence thanks to Randall Ashe; 10
and 11
WHEREAS, As a television producer, Mr. Ashe created the children’s television show 12
“The Happy Clown Puppet Show”, and the variety show "Ashe & Company". He also managed 13
the musical acts, The Revlons, who were three talented and charming ladies from Georgia, and 14
the popular group Rhythm; and 15
WHEREAS, In the mid 1980s, Randall Ashe once again transitioned in his career and 16
began to focus on public service. He began working at Roger Williams Park, and he served for 17
one year on the Human Relations Commission for the City of Providence. In 1997, he accepted a 18
position to serve with the City of Providence in the Department of Recreation, retiring in 2012 as 19
the Special Events Coordinator for the department; and 20
WHEREAS, Randall Ashe continues to support his community on a daily basis, primarily 21
through his support of the Saint Martin de Porres Senior Center where his unlimited energy, 22
vitality and charming smiles brighten the daily lives of the staff, residents and patients; now, 23
therefore be it 24
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby heartily honors and 25
thanks Randall Ashe for his excellence as a Jazz musician, theater performer, and for his long 26
career of public service; and be it further 27
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 28
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Randall Ashe. 29
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